The somoni (Tajik: cомонӣ, ISO 4217 code: TJS) is the currency of Tajikistan. It is subdivided into 100 dirams (Tajik: дирам). The currency is named after the father of the Tajik nation, Ismail Samani (also spelled Ismoil Somoni).
TZS Coins
Circulation coins, first issued in 2001 were struck in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 diram composed of brass-clad steel and 1, 3, and 5 somoni in nickel-clad steel. Bimetallic 3 and 5 somoni coins were first released in 2003. The reverse of all somoni coins are changed annually and commemorate various events. A second issue dated 2011 was issued in June 2012, and included 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 dirams and 1 somoni.[citation needed] A third series of somoni coins was issued in 2018 in denominations of 1, 3 and 5 somoni.
Tajikistan coins are struck by Goznak at the Saint Petersburg Mint in Russia.
A third series of somoni coins was issued in 2018 in denominations of 1, 3 and 5 somoni.
TZS Banknotes
Banknotes of 1, 5, 20, 50 dirams, 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 Navruz Palace on the back side of the note, replacing the image of the Presidential Palace on the previous issues of the denomination.
Coins
In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of -/5, -/10 and -/50 and 1/=, with the -/5 struck in bronze, the -/10 in nickel-brass (copper-nickel-zinc) and the -/50 and 1/= in cupro-nickel. Cupro-nickel 5/= coins were introduced in 1972, followed by scalloped, nickel-brass -/10 in 1977. This First Series coins set, in circulation from 1966 up to 1984, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE.[2]
In 1987, nickel-plated steel replaced cupro-nickel in the -/50 and 1/=, and cupro-nickel 5/= and 10/= coins were introduced, with the 5/= decagonal in shape. In 1990, nickel-clad-steel 5/=, 10/= and 20/= were introduced, followed by brass-plated steel coins for 100/= in 1993, 50/= in 1996 and copper-nickel-zinc 200/= in 1998.
Coins currently in circulation are the 50/=, 100/=, 200/=, and 500/=. The 500/= coin was issued on 8 September 2014.
Banknotes
On 14 June 1966, the Benki Kuu Ya Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes for 5/=, 10/=, 20/= and 100/=. The 5/= note was replaced by a coin in 1972. 50/= notes were introduced in 1985, followed by 200/= in 1986, 500/= in 1989 and 1,000/= in 1990. The 10/=, 20/=, 50/= and 100/= notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994, respectively. 5,000/= and 10,000/= notes were introduced in 1995, followed by 2,000/= in 2003. A new series of notes came out in 2011. These new notes include many security features that prevent counterfeiting.
Banknotes in circulation today are 500/=, 1,000/=, 2,000/=, 5,000/= and 10,000/=