National Bank of Kazakhstan: Saka Style Kazakhstani Banknote Series

Banknote Denomination/s and Date of Issue

In November 2023, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s national currency, the tenge, the National Bank of Kazakhstan unveiled the ”Saka Style” banknote series.

The series includes the following denominations: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 tenge. While the denominations remain consistent with the previous Qazaq Eli/Samruk series, the key differences lie in the optimized size, redesigned features, and enhanced security elements of the banknotes. The new banknote concept is inspired by Saka culture, showcasing Kazakhstan’s rich heritage and its evolution from nomadic traditions to a modern nation.

The inaugural banknote of this series, the 5,000 tenge denomination, was introduced into circulation on December 25, 2023.
Following this, the 10,000 tenge note was issued on June 28, 2024.
The 2,000 tenge banknote was released on December 25, 2024.
The series will continue with the 500 and 1,000 tenge notes scheduled for release later in 2025, and the 20,000 tenge note planned for issuance in 2026.

This staggered release schedule allows for the seamless integration of the new banknotes into circulation, ensuring a smooth transition for the public and financial institutions.

Submitting Organziation Name and role, if any, in the Project

The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) is the central bank with exclusive authority to issue the national currency, the Tenge.

Banknote Issuer’s Organization Name

National Bank of Kazakhstan

Project Description

Introduced in 1993, the tenge marked Kazakhstan’s financial sovereignty. A key milestone was the establishment of the Banknote Factory in 1995, enabling the country to produce its national currency independently. Over 30 years, Kazakhstan’s banknotes evolved from the Portraits Series to the Saka Style Series, launched in 2023.

The first three banknotes, denominated in 5,000, 10,000, and 2,000 tenge, have been issued. Three additional denominations are scheduled for release in 2025–2026.

The Saka Style Series is inspired by the Saka people, whose culture shaped Kazakhstan’s artistic and historical identity. The series fosters national pride, encourages cultural exploration, and promotes environmental responsibility. Archaeological findings – including artifacts, weapons, incorporating animal prototypes—directly influenced the design.

The new series was driven by three key objectives:
1) Cultural Representation – Honoring the Saka legacy, the design integrates motifs that are precursors to traditional Kazakh ornamentation, symbolizing the country’s evolution from a nomadic past to a modern state.
2) Optimization & Sustainability – The reduced size of the banknotes improves production efficiency, convenience, storage, and transportation while reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 12%. This optimization also increases the number of banknotes per sheet by around 30%.
3) Enhanced Security – The previous Kazakh Eli series has been in circulation since 2011, making updates essential for counterfeit prevention.

The Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan produced the new series, ensuring quality, security, and national craftsmanship.

Project Team

National Bank of Kazakhstan, The Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Kazakhstan

Legal Tender/Continuous Circulation/Face Value Confirmation

Innovation and Uniqueness of Security Features

The new ”Saka Style” banknotes incorporate advanced security features:

RollingStar® Patch (5,000 and 2,000 tenge) with a color shift from gold to jade when tilted. The image transitions from the nominal value to the ornament, with a dynamic effect of radiating solar rays.
Varifeye® ColourChange Patch (10,000 tenge) shimmers gold in direct light and reveals a mountain outline in transmitted light. When rotated, the mountain outline and face value transform into an ornament, accompanied by a radiating ray effect.
RAPID® Vision Micro-Optic Thread (5,000, 10,000, and 2,000 tenge) with multicolor movement for quick authentication. The banknotes feature dynamic ripple effects with interacting colors: red and blue for the 5,000, blue and purple for the 10,000, and green and blue for the 2,000.
SPARK Flow® Dimension (5,000, 10,000, and 2,000 tenge) changes color from gold to jade green when tilted, synchronized with the note’s imagery.

Integration of historical or local content that is relevant to the country concerned

”Saka Style” banknote series intricately weaves historical and cultural elements, reflecting Kazakhstan’s rich heritage. Each denomination features a branch of the ”Tree of Life” with a soaring bird, symbolizing the sacred connection between nature and spirituality, inspired by artifacts from the Issyk Kurgan (5th-4th centuries BCE). The inclusion of a DNA spiral and a stylized infinity symbol signifies the enduring bond between humanity and nature.

Each denomination in Kazakhstan’s ”Saka Style” banknote series features unique artifacts from ancient burial mounds, alongside depictions of animals revered in Kazakh culture.

In the center of each banknote there is a contour of the Kazakh infinity ornament inside which landscape views of Kazakhstan are placed, including Charyn Canyon (5,000 tenge), the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains (10,000 tenge), and Burabay Lake (2,000 tenge).

Collectively, these designs honor Kazakhstan’s ancestral legacy, intertwining historical artifacts with representations of the country’s diverse landscapes and fauna.

Effectiveness of the integration of security features into the banknote

Kazakhstani banknotes combine advanced and traditional security elements to prevent counterfeiting while honoring its heritage.

The 5,000 tenge note features a RollingStar® Patch that changes from the face value to an ornament and from gold to jade when tilted, and a RAPID® Vision Micro-Optic Security Thread with high-contrast multicolor movement. Its reverse displays a SPARK element of the Golden Eagle artifact.
The 10,000 tenge note incorporates a Varifeye® ColourChange Patch shimmering gold and revealing a blue mountain outline in transmitted light. Its RAPID® Vision thread features multicolor movement. A SPARK Flow® Dimension element changes from gold to jade green, synchronized with the Leopard’s Head artifact.
The 2,000 tenge note includes a RollingStar® Patch that changes from the face value to an ornament and shifts from gold to jade when rotated, a RAPID® Vision thread with multicolor movement, and a SPARK element of a Saiga Head changing from gold to jade.

Aesthetic appeal and overall design of the banknote or banknote series

The issuance of the new Saka Style banknote series aims to foster national pride, highlighting Kazakhstan’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Featuring revered animals and natural landscapes, the series emphasizes environmental stewardship and the preservation of Kazakhstan’s unique nature for future generations. As the country’s primary financial institution, the National Bank of Kazakhstan reinforces that the national tenge banknote is a symbol of economic independence, national identity, and progress through advanced security features.

The obverse side of each banknote symbolizes the profound connection between humanity and nature, while the reverse showcases iconic animals, intricate Kazakh ornaments, and breathtaking landscapes. This blend of imagery enhances visual appeal and pays homage to the nation’s history and natural beauty.

The seamless integration of these cultural elements with state-of-the-art security features ensures that the banknotes are not only secure against counterfeiting but also serve as a proud reflection of Kazakhstan’s identity and aspirations.