500 Tenge Uncia Uncia

Kazakhstan's National Bank launched its collectible silver program in the late 1990s as the young republic worked to establish financial credibility following the 1993 introduction of the tenge — itself a forced move after Russia abruptly restricted access to Soviet-era ruble reserves. The "Uncia" denomination, equal to one troy ounce in concept if not precisely in weight, was conceived specifically for the bullion and numismatic gift market rather than any circulation purpose.

At 24 grams in .925 silver, this sits just under true troy-ounce weight — a deliberate production choice that reduced silver content costs while preserving the marketing appeal of the uncia name.