Page 37 - The Stans of Central Asia: Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
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Tajikistan
?SP ZʯNTLW N`]]PYNd T^ _SP ?LUTVT^_LYT ^ZXZYT, which can be divided into 100 OT]LX. Banknote
and coin denominations are as follows:
• Banknotes: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 somoni
• Coins: 5, 10, 20, 25, and 50 diram and 1, 3, 5 somoni
Most business in Tajikistan prefer the local currency, but some will accept U.S. dollars
in a pinch.
Kazakhstan
?SP ZʯNTLW N`]]PYNd ZQ 6LeLVS^_LY T^ _SP tenge, which can be divided into 100 tiin (or _TdTY).
Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:
• Banknotes: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 tenge
• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 tenge. There are coins in tiin, but they aren’t used
very often.
@ > OZWWL]^ L]P YZ_ bTOPWd `^PO TY 6LeLVS^_LY& _SP WZNLW N`]]PYNd T^ []PQP]]PO
Kyrgyzstan
?SP ZʯNTLW N`]]PYNd ZQ 6d]Rde^_LY T^ _SP ^ZX. Each som contains 100 _dTdY. Banknote and coin
denominations are as follows:
• Banknotes: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 som
• Coins: 10 and 50 tyiyn and 1, 3, 5, 10 som
Many businesses in Kyrgyzstan will accept payment in U.S. dollars, especially for large-ticket
purchases. You may notice that higher-priced items are generally priced in dollars, while more
standard purchases will be priced in som. To exchange dollars for som, use banks and licensed
moneychanger booths.
Reminder: Good Condition Bills Only
You may have noticed the emphasis we’ve placed on the condition and age of your cash—
advising that you bring bills from the “large portrait” series, dated after 2000, and in good
condition. Think crisp new bills without tears, dirt, writing, etc.
This is because the use of U.S. bills as a “grey market” currency in Central Asia has led to
L ]T^P TY NZ`Y_P]QPT_^ 0cNSLYRP ZʯNP^ LYO ^SZ[^ TY^T^_ ZY MTWW^ TY RZZO NZYOT_TZY ^Z _SL_
they can judge if the money is real. What can be frustrating is that it is all in the eye of the
beholder—what one business is willing to accept, another is not—but the closer to mint-
condition the bill is, the more likely it will be accepted.
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