Coin of the Week: 2000 Kazakh 20 Tenge

Obverse (Inscription: 20 Tenge)

Reverse (Image: National Emblem of Kazakhstan)

A friend of mine requested that I post a coin from Kazakhstan for him to share with his adopted son, Peter. Luckily, I remembered that my in-laws had traveled to Kazakhstan a few years ago and brought me some coins. The only one I found in the stack of coins I still have to catalog (yes, still have lots of work to do!) was the 20 tenge.

Kazakhstan introduced the tenge on November 15, 1993 to replace the former Soviet Union's ruble. November 15 is therefore known as the "Day of National Currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan". The first coins circulated in 1993 included the 20 tenge piece.

The coin's obverse shows the denomination, an octagonal rosette at the top and national ornamentation on the bottom. The reverse of the coin depicts the national emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The circumference states the year of issue as well as "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" (Republic of Kazakhstan) in the state language. The emblem was adopted in June 1992. The center depicts the upper dome-like part of a yurt (a portable dwelling). This dome is also known as a shanyrak and is supported on each side by mythical horses with wings. The Kazakh emblem is circular in shape, a symbol of life and eternity.

The shanyrak itself is an important symbol for the Kazakh people. A very interesting summary of the yurt and shanyrak can be found here.