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Like other Central Asian regions, Kyrgyzia was largely nomadic before being incorporated into Russia in 1876. Kyrgyzstan was originally the Kirgiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic (1924). It became the Kirgiz Soviet Socialist Republic within the USSR on December 5, 1936. Kyrgyzstan became a republic on December 15, 1990, and declared its independence on August 31, 1991.

Kyrgyzstan's monetary history followed that of the Soviet Union until it gained its independence in 1991. Russian Rubles (RUES) were used in Kazakhstan until 1918. The Russian Ruble Sovnazki (RUFS) replaced the Tsarist Ruble at par in 1918. Lenin deliberated pursued inflationary policies to debilitate the capitalists. The resulting inflation led to the creation of new currencies, which also suffered from inflation. The Russian Ruble of 1922 (RUFR) was introduced on January 1, 1922 and replaced the Ruble Sovnazki at the rate of 1 Ruble of 1922 equal to 10,000 Rubles Sovnazki. The Soviet Ruble of 1923 (SUB) replaced the Ruble of 1922 at the rate of 1 Ruble of 1923 equal to 100 Rubles of 1923.

The Chervonetz (SUC) was introduced on December 27, 1922, which was backed 25% by gold, and eventually replaced the Ruble Sovnazki as a unit of account. The Gold Ruble (SUG) was introduced on March 7, 1924 equal to 1/10 Chervonetz and 50,000 Rubles of 1923 (i.e. it took 50,000,000,000 Soviet Gold Rubles to get one Tsarist Gold Ruble). A New Ruble (SUN) replaced the Gold Ruble on December 29, 1947 at the rate of 1 New Ruble equal to 10 Gold Rubles. On January 1, 1961, the Hard Ruble (SUR) replaced the New Ruble at the rate of 1 Hard Ruble equal to 10 New Rubles. Under the Soviet Union, the State Treasury and by the State Bank (Gosbank) issued banknotes.

When Kyrgyzstan gained its independence, it intially used the Russian Ruble (RUR). Kyrgyzstan introduced the Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS) on May 10, 1993 at the rate of 1 Som equal to 200 Russian Rubles. The Som is divisible into 100 Tyiyn. Kyrgyzstan has issued a few coins for numismatic purposes, but none for general circulation. The Kyrgyz Bank issued banknotes for Kyrgyzstan.

Here is a 1 Tylyn note issued in 1993. The note is dark brown on pink and brown-orange underprint. The obverse depicts a bald eagle in the center surounded by an intricate circular design. The reverse shows an ornate design in the center within an intricate circular design. The note has a watermark showing an eagle in a repeating pattern.

• Krause# Pick-1

This is a 10 Tylyn note printed in 1993. The note is brown on pale green and brown-orange underprint. The obverse depicts a bald eagle in the center surounded by an intricate circular design. The reverse shows an ornate design in the center within an intricate circular design. The note has a watermark showing an eagle in a repeating pattern.

• Krause# Pick-2

Here is a 50 Tylyn note printed in 1993. the note is gray on blue and brown-orange underprint. The obverse depicts a bald eagle in the center surounded by an intricate circular design. The reverse shows an ornate design in the center within an intricate circular design. The note has a watermark showing an eagle in a repeating pattern.

• Krause# Pick-3

This note is a 1 Som note printed in 1994. The note is brown on yellow and multicolored underprint. The obverse features Abdylas Maldybaev (a Kyrgyz composer, actor, and operatic tenor singer) and is also shown as the watermark. The reverse shows some string musical instruments as well as Bishkek's (the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan) Philharmonic Society and Manas Architectural Ensemble.

• Krause# Pick-P-7

Here is a 1 Som note dated 1999. The note is brown and tan on multicolored underprint. The obverse features Abdylas Maldybaev (a Kyrgyz composer, actor, and operatic tenor singer) and is also shown as the watermark. The reverse shows some string musical instruments as well as Bishkek's (the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan) Philharmonic Society and Manas Architectural Ensemble.

• Krause# Pick-P-15

• Krause# Pick-P-