The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) has introduced a new batch of coins in denomination of 20 and 20 diram as well as 1, 3 and 5 somoni into circulation.
An official source within the Tajik central bank says an appropriate regulation on this subject was issued on September 13, 2023.
According to him, a new batch of coins has been introduced into circulation in order to meet the demand for small coins, keep cash in good condition and improve money turnover in the country.
The Tajik national currency, the somoni, was introduced on October 30, 2000, replacing the Tajikistani ruble, at the rate of 1 somoni = 1000 rubles.
One somoni is divided into 100 diram. Diram banknotes were first introduced on 30 October 2000 to start the currency off, and coins were later introduced in 2001 with the intention of creating a more efficient monetary system and gradually replacing the diram notes. This was also the first time circulating coins were used in Tajikistan.
Tajik central bank introduced coins in denomination of 1, 3 and 5 somoni into circulation in 2017. NBT officials noted that at the time that banknotes in denomination of 1, 3 and 5 somoni are most in demand, and therefore, they are becoming dilapidated quickly. Therefore, it was decided to replace them with coins of the same denomination.
A third series of somoni coins was issued in 2018 in denominations of 1, 3 and 5 somoni and the fourth series of somoni coins in denomination of 1,3 ad 5 somoni as well as diram coin of 50 diram was issued in 2022.
Banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 somoni were printed in 1999 and issued in 2000. Along with a 3 somoni note in 2010, inflationary pressure since the introduction of the somoni has resulted in the printing of 200 and 500 somoni notes that year. The 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 somoni notes were reissued in 2013, bearing the year 1999. In 2021, the National Bank of Tajikistan issued a 100 somoni banknote, similar to the original issue, but now featuring an image of the Navrouz Palace on the back side of the note, replacing the image of the Presidential Palace on the previous issues of the denomination.
