The Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Кыргызстан (formerly Kirghiz S.S.R. A former Soviet Union Republic of USSR) is a rugged country with the Tien Shan mountain range covering approximately 95% of the whole territory. The name Kyrgyz, both for the country and the people, means "forty girls" or "forty tribes", a reference to the epic hero Manas who unified forty tribes against the Mongols, as symbolized by the 40-ray sun on the flag of Kyrgyzstan.Kyrgyzstan borders Kazakhstan on the north and northwest, Uzbekistan in the southwest, Tajikistan in the south, and China in the southeast. The republic is the same size in area as the state of Nebraska. ENJOY!!

Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian
Religions: Muslim, Russian Orthodox
Status: UN Country 1992
Som: Kyrghyz: "Pure" (gold)

Today's note is a 2002 issue of 100 Som. It has a book value of $12.50 in UNC condition and the exchange rate is:
Sunday, January 25, 2009
100 Kyrgyzstanian Som = 2.48526 US Dollar

(Front) Toktogul Satilganov, a famous musician at right and as watermark. (Back) Khan Tengri Mountains at left center. On the actual note the printing is so good the mountains almost look 3 dimensional!

Note: Kazakhstan has the extremely beautiful Tien Shan mountains (translated as "Lord of the spirits") in its southeast corner. The mountains of Kazakhstan are big and serious, with the highest peak being Khan Tengri.