New Turkmenian Manat Are Ready to Circulate

On 11 October 2008 the new Turkmenian national currency drafts to be introduced into circulation in 2009, were adopted by President Gurbanguly Berdy-mukhamedov. The drafts of the new banknotes were prepared by De La Rue, that has been cooperating with Turkmenia in issuing national currency from the first days of its independence.

The banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 manat will be introduced into circulation. They will replace the old banknotes of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 manat. Portraits of famous Turmen historical personas and views of Ashgabat will be the main design elements of the new notes.
Let us note that the portrait of the first president of the country Saparmurat Niyazov who reared the title of Turkmenbashi (farther of the Turkmans) will remain on the 500-manat banknote only. 1-manat banknote will bear a portrait of Togrul Bek (founder of the Seljuq Empire), 5-manat banknote — Soltan Sanjar (last ruler of the Seljuks imperia), 10-manat banknote — poet Makhtum-kuli Fragi, 20-manat and 50-manat banknotes — heroes of epos Gerogly Bek and Gorgut Ata, 100-manat banknote — Ogus Khan, a legendary ancestor of the Turkmans.