Central Bank of Uzbekistan Banknotes

The Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi Markaziy Banki) operates as the central monetary authority overseeing a currency system evolving from early post-Soviet issues to modern high-denomination series reflecting Silk Road themes.

Quick Facts

Country: Uzbekistan

Currency: Uzbekistan First Sum, Uzbekistan Sum

Local name: Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi Markaziy Banki

Institutional Identity

The Bank operates as Uzbekistan’s central monetary authority, managing inflation, supervising financial institutions, and guiding a transition from post-Soviet monetary controls toward a more structured and modernized currency system.

Historical Evolution

Following independence, Uzbekistan introduced transitional “Sum-Coupons” (1992–1994), printed in the United Kingdom by Harrison & Sons, before launching the official sum in 1994, with later reforms dramatically expanding denominations up to 200,000 sum to address long-standing cash circulation challenges.

Design Philosophy

Modern Uzbek banknotes are defined by the “Great Silk Road” series, combining architectural landmarks with detailed depictions of archaeological artifacts such as Afrosiab ceramics and Akhsikent silver amulets, executed with advanced security features and refined geometric composition.

For collectors

For collectors, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan offers a compelling narrative from rare transitional coupons to high-denomination modern issues, where the shift from carrying “bricks” of low-value notes to sleek 200,000 sum banknotes creates a striking before-and-after collecting story.