Named after the father of the nation, Ismail Samani, the Tajikistani somoni is a relatively new currency on the market.
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History and Culture | Travel Guide
- Currency Code: TJS
- Subunit: diram (1/100)
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 diram, 1, 3, 5 somoni
- Banknotes: 1, 2, 5, 20, 50 diram, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 somoni
- GDP (nominal): US$7.242 billion (136th)
- Inflation: 6%
- Central Bank: National Bank of Tajikistan
History
The Tajikistani somoni was introduced in October 2000, replacing the Tajikistani ruble which had been in use for the previous five years (prior to which the Soviet/Russian ruble was still used despite the USSR’s collapse). The somoni was introduced at a rate of 1 somoni to 1000 rubles. Banknotes came first while the country’s first coinage followed a year later, with some intended to replace existing banknotes.
Value
Over the last five years, the TJS has fallen against the USD. From a value of less than 5 TJS to 1 USD in 2013, it is now closer to 9:1.
Coins
The first series of coins was introduced in 2001, and included a wide range of denominations ranging from 5 diram to 5 somoni. While the new series (from 2011) features lower value coins, it did not include the 3 and 5 somoni coin. Below you can find the current series:
| Value | Composition | Obverse | Reverse |
| 1 diram | Brass clad steel | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 2 diram | Copper clad brass | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 5 diram | Copper clad brass | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 10 diram | Copper clad brass | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 20 diram | Copper clad brass | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 50 diram | Copper clad brass | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
| 1 somoni | Copper-nickel clad steel | Coat of arms, ‘Republic of Tajikistan’, year of minting | Value |
Source: Wikipedia
Notes
The current series of banknotes was introduced in 2000, though some notes (3, 200, 500 somoni) were not around until 2010.
| Value | Colour | Obverse | Reverse |
| 1 diram | Brown | Sadriddin Ayni Theatre and Opera House | The Pamirs |
| 5 diram | Blue | Arbob Cultural Palace | Shrine of Mirzo Tursunzoda |
| 20 diram | Green | Meetings Hall of the National Bank of Tajikistan | Mountain road |
| 50 diram | Purple | Ismail Samani | Mountain valley |
| 1 somoni | Green | Mirzo Tursunzoda | National Bank of Tajikistan |
| 3 somoni | Violet | Shirinsho Shotemur | Majlisi Oli |
| 5 somoni | Blue | Sadriddin Ayni | Shrine of Abuabdullo Rudaki |
| 10 somoni | Red | Mir Said Alii Hamadoni | Tomb of Mir Said Alii Hamadoni |
| 20 somoni | Yellow-brown | Abuali ibn Sino | Hissar Castle |
| 50 somoni | Blue | Bobojon Gafurov | Chaikhana (teahouse) Sino |
| 100 somoni | Brown | Ismail Samani | Presidential Palace |
| 200 somoni | Brown and yellow | Nusratullo Maksum | National Library building in Dushanbe |
| 500 somoni | Purple and gray | Abuabdullo Rudaki | Palace of Nations in Dushanbe |
Source: Wikipedia
Economy
The path of the Tajik economy hasn’t always been easy since the fall of the Soviet Union. Cotton and aluminum are hugely important factors in generating foreign revenue, leaving the economy open to market factors. The country is also very dependent on foreign remittances from expatriates. While Tajikistan was experiencing growth prior to the Global Financial Crisis, the effects of the economic disaster were keenly felt here. In addition, more than 50% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Finally, a large black market exists in Tajikistan. It is based around the drug trade with neighbouring Afghanistan. By some accounts, heroin trafficking here is equal to 30-50% of GDP.
The Bottom Line
Despite a decently stable currency, economic issues such as pervasive poverty remain.
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