5000 Kip Old coat of arms

The "old coat of arms" designation in dealer catalogs distinguishes this issue from the redesigned series that followed a heraldic revision to the national emblem — a straightforward administrative change that nonetheless created two collectible variants within what is otherwise a continuous printing run. The date range 1997–2004 reflects years of issue, not a single print order; the notes were released gradually through the banking system rather than in one circulation event.

The watermark is the sole security feature, modest by late-1990s regional standards. Neighboring central banks were already adopting security threads and color-shifting inks by this period.