BANKNOTES OF AZERBAIJAN
These notes are available for your viewing
pleasure!
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge.
Azerbaijani Manat
The manat (currency code: AZN) is the currency of Azerbaijan. It is subdivided
into 100 qəpik. The word manat is borrowed from the Russian word "монета" (coin)
which is pronounced as "maneta". Manat was also the designation of the Soviet
ruble in both the Azerbaijani and Turkmen languages.
First Manat (1919-1923)
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic
issued their own currency between 1919 and 1923. This currency was called the
manat (منات) in Azerbaijani and the ruble (рубль) in Russian, with both language
appearing on the banknotes. The manat replaced the first Transcaucasian ruble at
par and was replaced by the second Transcaucasian ruble after Azerbaijan became
part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic. No subdivisions
were issued and the currency only existed as banknotes. The Democratic Republic
issued notes in denominations between 25 and 500 manat, whilst the ASSR issued
notes in denominations between 5 and 5 million manat.
Second Manat (1992-2006)
The second manat was introduced on 15 August 1992. It had the ISO 4217 code AZM
and replaced the Soviet ruble at a rate of 10 rubles to 1 Azerbaijani manat.
From early 2002 to early 2005, the exchange rate was fairly stable (varying
within a band of 4770–4990 manat per US dollar). Starting in the spring of 2005
there was a slight but steady increase in the value of the manat against the US
dollar; the reason most likely being the increased flow of petrodollars into the
country, together with the generally high price of oil on the world market. At
the end of 2005, one dollar was worth 4591 manat. Banknotes below 100 manat had
effectively disappeared by 2005, as had the qəpik coins.
Coins were issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 qəpik, dated 1992 and
1993. Although brass and cupro-nickel were used for some of the 1992 issues,
later issues were all in aluminium.
The following banknotes were issued for this currency:
● 1, 5, 10, 250 manat (first issued in 1992)
● 50, 100, 500, 1000 manat (first issued in 1993)
● 10,000 manat (first issued in 1994)
● 50,000 manat (first issued in 1996)
Third Manat (2006 - Present)
On 1 January 2006, a new manat (ISO 4217 code AZN, also called the "manat
(national currency)") was introduced at a value of 5000 old manat. Since 1
October 2005, prices have been indicated both in new manats and in old manats to
ease transition. Coins denominated in qəpik, which had not been used from 1993
onwards due to inflation, have been reintroduced with the redenomination.
The former "second" manat remained legal tender until 31 December 2006.
Current Coins
Coins in circulation are 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qəpik, The fifty qəpik coin is
bimetallic, similar to the €2 coin.
Current Banknotes
Banknotes in circulation are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 manat. They were designed
by Austrian Robert Kalina, who was also responsible for the design of the
current euro banknotes. The notes look quite similar to those of the euro and
the choice of motifs was inspired by the euro banknotes.
BACK TO HOMEPAGE
Page created: 9 July 2007
Last Update: 9 July 2007
Maps are provided by Graphic Maps
All maps provided by them bear their copyright information.
All scans shown here are of actual notes from my collection unless otherwise
noted.
Images and content unless otherwise noted are copyrighted.
(c) 2006 - 2007 Will's Online World Paper Money Gallery