The 1993 som series was Kyrgyzstan's first national currency, introduced on 10 May 1993 to replace the Soviet ruble following independence. Harrison & Sons, the long-established British security printer, handled production — a common arrangement for newly independent post-Soviet states that lacked domestic printing infrastructure and needed internationally credible notes quickly.
The watermark is the sole security feature on this denomination, reflecting both the modest value and the cost constraints of a country issuing currency for the first time on short notice.
The 1993 som series was Kyrgyzstan's first national currency, introduced on 10 May 1993 to replace the Soviet ruble following independence. Harrison & Sons, the long-established British security printer, handled production — a common arrangement for newly independent post-Soviet states that lacked domestic printing infrastructure and needed internationally credible notes quickly.
The watermark is the sole security feature on this denomination, reflecting both the modest value and the cost constraints of a country issuing currency for the first time on short notice.