200 Som

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic released the 200 Som banknote in 2023, with circulation beginning on May 10, 2023, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Kyrgyzstani Som. This yellow note measures 138 mm x 66 mm and represents the first phase of modernization bringing updated designs and enhanced security features to the banknote series. The obverse displays a portrait of Alykul Osmonov (1915-1950), a poet recognized as the founder of modern Kyrgyz written poetry, who died young at age 35 but left an extraordinary literary legacy that bridges classical oral traditions with 20th century written forms.

The reverse showcases the stunning Issyk Kul lake, one of the world's largest alpine lakes by volume at approximately 1,730 cubic kilometers of water, located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan at an altitude of 1,607 meters. Despite its high altitude, the lake never freezes due to its depth of over 600 meters and slight salinity — a characteristic that gave it the Kyrgyz name meaning warm lake. The reverse also features an excerpt from Osmonov's writing, creating an artistic connection between the landscape and its poetic interpretation.

Osmonov's work transformed Kyrgyz poetry by introducing individual lyric expression within a literary culture previously dominated by collective epic forms. The combination of his portrait with Issyk Kul's timeless landscape on the 200 Som note reflects Kyrgyzstan's pride in both its literary achievements and its extraordinary natural geography.