Uzbekistani sum

Currency of Uzbekistan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The sum[a] (ISO code: UZS) is the official currency of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan replaced the ruble with the sum at par on 16 July 1994. No subdivisions of this sum were initially issued and only banknotes were produced, in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 sum. Further series, however, have introduced coins and a subunit, the tiyin. Because it was meant to be a transitional currency, the original design used during the first years of the republic was rather simplistic.

CodeUZS (numeric: 860)
PluralThe language(s) of this currency do(es) not have a morphological plural distinction.
1100Tiyin
Quick facts ISO 4217, Code ...
Uzbekistani sum
  • Oʻzbek soʻmi (Uzbek)
  • Ўзбек сўми (Uzbek)
200,000 sum banknote (2022)
ISO 4217
CodeUZS (numeric: 860)
Subunit0.01
PluralThe language(s) of this currency do(es) not have a morphological plural distinction.
Denominations
Subunit
1100Tiyin
Banknotes
Freq. used2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 sum
Rarely used1,000 sum
Coins
Freq. used50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 sum
Rarely used50 sum
Demographics
Date of introduction11 July 1994[1]
ReplacedSoviet ruble[1]
User(s)Uzbekistan Uzbekistan
Issuance
Central bankCentral Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi Markaziy Banki)
Websitewww.cbu.uz
Valuation
Inflation8.8%
Source, November 2023
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Etymology

The official name of the Soviet currency in the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek languages was the som, and this name appeared written on the back of banknotes, among the texts for the value of the note in all 15 official languages of the USSR. This word translates as 'pure' in several Turkic languages, and is derived from the Proto-Turkic *som, meaning 'pure' or 'solid'. The word implies pure silver or gold.

First sum

History

Like other republics of the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan continued using the Soviet/Russian ruble after independence. On 26 July 1993, a new series of Russian ruble was issued and the old Soviet/Russian ruble ceased to be legal tender in Russia.[2][3] Some successor states had their national currencies before the change, some chose to continue using the pre-1993 Soviet/Russian ruble, and some chose to use both the pre-1993 and the new Russian ruble. Tables of modern monetary history: Asia[4] implies that both old and new rubles were used in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan replaced the ruble with the sum at par in on 15 November 1993.[4] No subdivisions of this sum were issued and only banknotes were produced, in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 sum. Because it was meant to be a transitional currency, the design was rather simplistic. All notes had the Coat of arms on the obverse, and Sher-Dor Madrasah of the Registan in Samarkand on the reverse.

Coins

No coins were issued for the first sum.

Banknotes

The first banknotes were issued by the State Bank of Uzbekistan in 1993. All of the denominations share the same designs: the Coat of arms of Uzbekistan on the front and the madrasahs on Registan Square in Samarkand.

More information Image, Value ...
Image Value Dimensions
(mm)
Obverse Reverse
1 sum 120×61
3 sum
5 sum
10 sum
25 sum
50 sum 144×69
100 sum
200 sum
500 sum
1,000 sum
5,000 sum
10,000 sum
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Second sum

History

500 sum note issued in 1999.

On 1 July 1994,[4] a second sum was introduced at a rate of 1 new sum = 1,000 old sum. This sum is subdivided into 100 tiyin.

Inflation

Until 2013, the largest denomination of Uzbek currency was the 1,000-sum banknote, then worth US$0.60, requiring Uzbeks to carry large bundles of notes for routine transactions.

Back in 2019, a new largest denomination was issued, the 100,000-sum banknote (as of October 2019 worth US$10.55), which made the situation easier. The smallest denomination, the 1 tiyin, is worth less than 19400 of a US cent making it the "world's most worthless coin" that was still legal tender until 1 March 2020. However, coins and banknotes smaller than 50 sum are rare now.[5]

The rampant inflation situation is considered a politically sensitive issue in Uzbekistan, which is why the Uzbek government is slow to acclimate the currency to its current value by issuing higher coin and note denominations. As a result, the current highest coin denomination in circulation is the 1000 sum while the highest banknote denomination is the 200,000 sum. Official state figures put inflation as of the first half of 2011 at 3.6%, however accurate numbers are pinned far higher. Coins and banknotes below 50 sum are practically worthless now.

As of December 2025, the annual inflation rate in Uzbekistan is 7.3%. This marks the lowest inflation rate since December 2016. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has noted that the slowdown is primarily attributed to the stabilizing effects of the 2024 energy price liberalization.

Coins

Three series of coins have been issued for the second sum. They can be easily distinguished by the script used for the Uzbek language. The first series was written in Cyrillic script, while the second and third series is written in Latin script.

First series (1994–2000)

More information Image, Value ...
First series coins (1994–2000)
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReversemintingissuewithdrawallapse
1 tiyin 16,9 mm 1,75 g Brass-clad steel Smooth Coat of arms with 12 stars
State title
Value, year of minting 1994 July 1994 1 March 2020[6] 1 January 2021[6]
3 tiyin 19,9 mm 2,7 g Reeded
5 tiyin 17 mm 1,8 g
10 tiyin 18,7 mm 2,85 g Nickel-clad steel
20 tiyin 22 mm 4 g Inscription: “ЙИГИРМА ТИЙИН ЙИГИРМА ТИЙИН”
50 tiyin 23,9 mm 4,8 g Inscription: “ЭЛЛИК ТИЙИН * ЭЛЛИК ТИЙИН * ЭЛЛИК ТИЙИН”
1 sum 19,8 mm 2,72 g Smooth 1997, 1998, 1999 1997
5 sum 22,2 mm 4 g
10 sum 24 mm 4,7 g 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
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Second series (2000–2004)

More information Second Series, Image ...
Second Series
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of mintingWithdrawal
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReverse
1 sum 18.4 mm 2.83 g Stainless steel Reeded Coat of arms without stars
Bank title, year of minting
Value, map of Uzbekistan 2000 1 March 2020[6]
5 sum 21.2 mm 3.35 g Brass-clad steel Plain Coat of arms without stars
Bank title, year of minting
Value, map of Uzbekistan 2001 1 March 2020[6]
10 sum 19.75 mm 2.71 g Nickel-clad steel Plain Coat of arms without stars
Bank title, year of minting
Value, map of Uzbekistan 2001 1 March 2020[6]
50 sum 26.1 mm 8 g Plain and reeded sections Coat of arms without stars
Bank title, year of minting
Value, map of Uzbekistan 2001 1 July 2019[7]
50 sum 26.1 mm 7.9 g Value, statue and ruin of Shahrisabz 2002 1 July 2019[7]
100 sum 26.9 mm 7.9 g Nickel-plated steel Inscription Coat of arms without stars
Bank title, year of minting
Value, map of Uzbekistan, sunrays 2004 1 July 2019[7]
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
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Third series (2018–2022)

In May 2018 the introduction of new coins valued 50, 100, 200 and 500 sum was announced. All previously issued banknotes and coins of those denominations were to be withdrawn from circulation by 1 July 2020. In December 2022, the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan introduced a 1,000 sum coin into circulation, notable as it is the first bi-metallic coin issued for circulation since the introduction of the Uzbek sum in 1994.

More information Third series (2018), Image ...
Third series (2018)[8]
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReversemintingissuewithdrawallapse
50 sum 18.0 mm 2.0g Nickel-plated steel Plain Denomination National emblem of Uzbekistan, year of minting 2018 2 July 2018[6] Current
100 sum 20.0 mm 2.5 g Independence and Goodness monument, Tashkent
200 sum 22.0 mm 3.3 g Detail of a tiger mosaic on the Sher-Dor Madrasah at the Registan in Samarkand
500 sum 24.0 mm 3.9 g Palace of Conventions (Anjumanlar Saroyi) in Tashkent
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
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More information Third series (2022), Image ...
Third series (2022)[8]
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReversemintingissuewithdrawallapse
1,000 sum 26.27 mm 7.3 g Brass-plated copper center in a nickel ring Plain Center of Islamic Civilization (Islom Sivilzatsiyasi Markazi) in Tashkent National emblem of Uzbekistan, year of minting 2022 26 December 2022 Current
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
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Banknotes

The second and current series, issued by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was released in 1994 in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 sum. A 200 sum banknote was issued in 1997, the 500 sum in 1999, the 1,000 sum in 2001, the 5,000 sum in 2013, the 10,000 sum on 10 March 2017, the 50,000 sum on 22 August 2017 and the 100,000 sum on 25 February 2019. The latter four denominations feature inscriptions in Latin-based Uzbek as opposed to Uzbek Cyrillic in banknotes of 1 to 1,000 Uzbek sum. On 14 June 2021, the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued the 2,000 and 20,000 sum banknotes to help bridge the gap between 1,000 and 5,000 sum as well as 10,000 and 50,000 sum. On 18 June 2021, the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued new 5,000 and 10,000 sum banknotes, utilizing the design templates of the 2,000 and 20,000 sum banknotes. In that same year, the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued new 50,000 and 100,000 sum banknotes as part of a new series of banknotes first introduced with the 2,000 and 20,000 sum banknotes. An entirely new 200,000 sum banknote was issued on 15 July 2022.

More information 1994-2019 Series, Image ...
1994-2019 Series[9]
ImageValueMain ColourDescriptionDate of printingDate of first issuewithdrawal
ObverseReverseObverseReverse
1 sum Green and pink National emblem of Uzbekistan Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater in Tashkent 1994 1 July 1994 1 March 2020[6]
3 sum Red Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum in Bukhara
5 sum Blue and orange National emblem of Uzbekistan and Islamic pattern Alisher Navoi Monument in Tashkent
10 sum Purple Gur-e Amir in Samarkand
25 sum Blue and pink Shah-i-Zinda Complex in Samarkand
50 sum Brown The three Madrasahs of the Registan in Samarkand 1 July 2019[10]
100 sum Purple Palace of Friendship of Peoples in Tashkent
200 sum Green National emblem of Uzbekistan Detail of a tiger mosaic (Shir o Khorshid) on the Sherdor Madrasah at the Registan in Samarkand 1997 1 March 1997[11] 1 July 2020[6]
500 sum Red and some green Statue of Amir Temur (Tamerlane) in Tashkent 1999 1 June 2000[11]
1,000 sum Grey Amir Timur Museum in Tashkent 2001 1 September 2001[11] Current
5,000 sum Green National Assembly (Oliy Majlis) in Tashkent 2013 1 July 2013
10,000 sum Blue Senate (Senat) in Tashkent 2017 10 March 2017
50,000 sum Violet National emblem of Uzbekistan; top of the “Ezgulik” ark in Independence Square in Tashkent Palace of Conventions (Anjumanlar Saroyi) in Tashkent 22 August 2017
100,000 sum Orange and light brown National emblem of Uzbekistan; Mirzo Ulugbek; solar system Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory in Samarkand; map of Uzbekistan 2019 25 February 2019
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
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More information Image, Value ...
2021–2022 series
Image Value Dimensions Main colour Description Date of Ref.
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark printing issue
2,000 sum 142 × 69 mm Red Bukhara Arch, caravan routes on map of Uzbekistan, Honatlas textile patterns, National emblem of Uzbekistan Varahsha ruins of the ancient caravan route Poykend, clay pot and artifact, camel Camel and "2000" 2021 14 June 2021 [12]
5,000 sum Green Sherdor madrasasi in Samarkand, National emblem of Uzbekistan Archaeological Monuments of Afrosiyob belonging to the 8th-5th centuries BC, Archeological find of a 10th-century pottery jug and an embossed ceramic bowl found in the ruins of Afrosiyob Camel and "5000" 20 August 2021 [13]
10,000 sum 147 × 69 mm Blue Great Silk Road, Architectural monument Kokaldosh madrasasi in Tashkent, National emblem of Uzbekistan Oldest monument in the territory of Tashkent, which dates back to the 1st century BC - Shoshtepa archaeological monument, Ancient ceramics of Tashkent, pottery of 10th-12th century, and household utensils of the 10th century Camel and "10000" [14]
20,000 sum Indigo Koi Krylgan Kala archeology site, caravan routes on map of Uzbekistan, textile patterns, National emblem of Uzbekistan 6th-century pottery from Aral and Caspian Seas, embroidery design Camel and "20000" 14 June 2021 [15]
50,000 sum Purple Al-Hakim At-Termiziy Maqbarasi in Surxondaryo, caravan routes on map of Uzbekistan, National emblem of Uzbekistan Fayoztepa Arxeologiya Yodgorligi ancient archaeological monument in Surxondaryo, flying dove, 17th-century pottery from Sopollitepa Camel and "50000" 22 December 2021 [16]
100,000 sum 152 × 69 mm Orange Ichan Qal’a museum in Khiva, Khorezm, caravan routes on map of Uzbekistan, National emblem of Uzbekistan Angkaqal’a Archeologiya Yodgorligi fortress in Khorezm, 1st-century BC silver coin, 10th-century pottery from Khorezm Camel and "100000" [17]
200,000 sum Cyan Xudoyorxon O’rdasi (Khan’s Palace) in Kokand, Fergana, caravan routes on map of Uzbekistan, National emblem of Uzbekistan Axsikent Arxeologiya Yodgorligi (ancient archaeological monument) in ancient Fergana, pomegranate, double-headed snake and ceramic bowl Camel and "200000" 2022 15 July 2022 [18]
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
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Exchange rates

At its introduction on 1 July 1994, 1 US dollar was equal to 25 sum.

2017 reform

On 2 September 2017, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued a decree "On priority measures of liberalizing foreign exchange policy".[19] The reform took effect on 5 September 2017. The currency was untethered from its US dollar peg and started to float. As a result the sum's exchange rate to the US dollar increased from 4,210 Uzbek sum to 8,100 Uzbek sum. The new rate was even weaker than the sum's black-market convertibility of about 7,700 to the dollar. Restrictions on the amount of foreign currencies individuals and companies could buy were also abolished on the same day.[20]

From February 1, 2018 to February 1, 2025 the exchange rate for the US Dollar rose from 8175 to 12957 Sum (UZS) per USD. This corresponded to an era of Uzbek double digit inflation. However, by February 1, 2026 the rate had dipped to 12199.

More information Current UZS exchange rates ...
Current UZS exchange rates
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See also

Notes

  1. Uzbek: soʻm, сўм, سۉم, IPA: [sɵm]


References

Sources

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