1.000 Som

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic released the 1,000 Som banknote in 2023 as the highest denomination of the first phase of banknote modernization, entering circulation on May 10, 2023. This gray-green note measures 150 mm x 71 mm. The obverse displays a portrait of Yusuf Balasaguni (1020-1070 AD), the medieval Karakhanid poet and philosopher born in Balasagun (near present-day Tokmok), whose masterwork Kutadgu Bilig (Wisdom that Brings Happiness) is one of the oldest surviving monuments of Turkic literature. Written in 1069-1070 and dedicated to the Karakhanid ruler, the work blends Islamic philosophical thought with pre-Islamic Turkic traditions.

The reverse showcases the Takhti Sulaiman monument, also known as the Throne of Solomon, an ancient sacred site in the Sulaiman Mountains in Osh that has been a place of worship for thousands of years and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The mountain contains numerous petroglyphs, shrines, and archaeological remains spanning from the Paleolithic era through the 16th century, when the Timurid ruler Babur constructed a mosque on its summit. Pilgrims from across Central Asia visit the site seeking healing and spiritual blessing.

The pairing of Yusuf Balasaguni with Takhti Sulaiman creates a profound cultural statement about Kyrgyzstan's medieval intellectual heritage and sacred geography. The 1,000 Som note's gray-green color scheme conveys the gravitas appropriate for the highest denomination in the first modernization phase.