The tenge is an official currency of Kazakstan with code KZT and symbol ₸. It is subdivided into 100 tiyn or tijin. The word tenge is derived from Turkish language which means set of scales. The name of Kazakstan Tenge is similar to other currencies like peso, lira, pound, shekel and taka. In 2006, the National Bank of Kazakstan organized a competition for best symbol of national currency. On March 20, ₸ was approved as national symbol of Kazakstan currency.
The first series of Kazakstan Tenge coins and banknotes were introduced in 1993. The coins in denomination of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tijin while banknotes in denomination of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tijin and 1, 3, 5, 10 20 and 50 tenge. The new series of coins were introduced respectively in 1998, 2005, 2013 and then in 2019. The banknotes of 200, 500 and 1000 was introduced in 1994 while banknote of 2000 tenge in 1996, 5000 tenge in 1999 and banknote of 10,000 on 28th July 2003.
The banknotes currently in circulation include 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 tenge and frequently used coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 tenge and rarely used 1, 2.