Tajikistan 1 Somoni Mirzo Tursunzoda 1999 Pick 14 UNC Banknote
The Tajikistan 1 Somoni 1999 Pick 14 belongs to the country’s first series denominated in the Somoni, the national currency introduced after independence.
Predominantly green and blue, this attractive banknote combines a portrait of Mirzo Tursunzoda, a major figure in 20th-century Tajik literature, with a map of Tajikistan and national imagery. The reverse depicts the headquarters of the National Bank of Tajikistan in the capital, Dushanbe.
Although the banknote bears the date 1999, the Somoni was officially introduced and the first notes entered circulation on 30 October 2000. Numista
Historical Background
The Somoni was introduced in 2000, replacing the Tajikistani ruble as part of the development of Tajikistan’s independent monetary system.
The currency takes its name from Ismail Samani (Ismoili Somoni), the 9th–10th century ruler of the Samanid dynasty who occupies an important place in Tajik national history.
The original banknote family was printed with the date 1999 and included denominations from 1 Somoni through 100 Somoni, alongside smaller Diram notes. Wikipedia
This makes the 1 Somoni an accessible example of the first generation of Tajikistan’s modern national currency.
Technical Specifications
- Country: Tajikistan
- Denomination: 1 Somoni
- Year: 1999
- First Issue: 30 October 2000
- Pick Number: P-14
- Condition: Uncirculated (UNC)
- Issuer: National Bank of Tajikistan
- Currency: Tajikistani Somoni (TJS)
- Material: Paper
- Dimensions: 141 × 65 mm
- Dominant Colours: Green and blue
- Printer: Giesecke & Devrient
- Type: Standard circulation banknote
- Watermark: Mirzo Tursunzoda
Obverse
The obverse features:
- Portrait of Mirzo Tursunzoda
- Map of Tajikistan
- Globe
- Coat of Arms
- National Bank of Tajikistan inscriptions
- 1 Somoni denomination
- Serial numbers
Mirzo Tursunzoda (1911–1977) was one of Tajikistan’s most celebrated poets and an influential literary and cultural figure during the Soviet period. His prominence in Tajik culture led to his selection for the country’s first 1 Somoni banknote. Numista
Reverse
The reverse depicts:
- National Bank of Tajikistan building in Dushanbe
- National flag of Tajikistan
- English denomination ONE SOMONI
- National Bank inscriptions
- Anti-counterfeiting warning
The choice of the National Bank headquarters was especially appropriate for a denomination belonging to the country’s newly introduced independent currency.
Security Features
The original 1 Somoni incorporates several security features, including:
- Mirzo Tursunzoda portrait watermark
- Windowed security thread with Cyrillic BMT
- UV security fibres and printing
- Fine-line patterns
- Detailed multicolour printing
- Serial numbers
- Security microprinting banknoteindex.com
Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?
The Tajikistan 1 Somoni 1999 Pick 14 UNC banknote is particularly interesting because it comes from the inaugural series of the Somoni, giving it significance beyond its modest face value.
It is ideal for collectors of Central Asian banknotes, former Soviet republics, first national currency issues, literary figures, Tajikistan currency and UNC world paper money.
Collector’s Note
There is an important variety distinction within the original Pick 14 issue. Collector catalogues identify P-14a with an orange globe and UV activity on the obverse, while P-14b also has the orange globe but lacks that UV activity. A later P-14A version associated with 2010 has a green globe.
Therefore, if your banknote is simply listed as “Tajikistan 1 Somoni 1999”, I would keep the product title at Pick 14 unless you have confirmed the specific UV/globe variety. This avoids incorrectly assigning P-14a or P-14b.
