20 Som

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic released the 20 Som banknote in 2023, with circulation beginning on February 15, 2024, as part of the second phase of the national currency modernization program. This red banknote measures 120 mm x 58 mm. The obverse features a portrait of Togolok Moldo (1860-1942), a celebrated Kyrgyz writer, poet, and folk philosopher who played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting Kyrgyz oral literary traditions. His contributions helped maintain the continuity of Kyrgyz cultural identity during a period of major social transformation.

The reverse showcases the Tash-Rabat caravansarai, a remarkably well-preserved 15th-century stone structure located in the At-Bashy district at an altitude of 3,200 meters, serving as a staging post on a branch of the ancient Silk Road that connected Central Asia with China. The caravansarai provided shelter for traders, pilgrims, and travelers traversing the high mountain passes, and its survival reflects the durability of the medieval architecture of the Karakhanid or Timurid period.

The 20 Som is the lowest denomination in the second phase of modernization and incorporates Crane Currency's RAPID HD Detect technology, which provides dynamic visual security effects. The Bioguard varnish with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties adds a public health dimension to the note's specifications, a feature particularly valued in the post-pandemic context.