First manat (TMM, 1993—2009)

Quick Facts ISO 4217, Code ...

First Turkmen manat

500 manat banknote of the first manat.
ISO 4217
Code	TMM
Denominations
Banknotes	1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 manats
Coins	1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tenge, 500 and 1,000 manats
Demographics
User(s)	Turkmenistan
Valuation
Inflation	992.39%
Source	Statista, 1996 est.
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

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In 1993, manat notes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 manats, replacing the Soviet rouble. These were followed by notes for 1,000 manats in 1995 and 5,000 and 10,000 manats in 1996. In 2005, a new series of notes was introduced in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 manats. All notes, with exception of the 1 and 5 manat banknotes bear a portrait of former president Saparmurat Niyazov. All Turkmen banknotes are produced by the De La Rue printing and banknote company.

First manat (second issue)

In 2005, a new series of manat banknotes was introduced. They had originally been intended to replace the first manat at a fixed rate, with 1 equal to 1,000 of the first manat, but the revaluation was postponed and this issue was released to circulate with previous manat issues. The series of notes was introduced in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 manats. Two new coins were also introduced in only two denominations, 500 and 1,000 manats. Both the first and second issue manat banknotes circulated in tandem until the issue of the redenominated issue in 2009.

Second manat

After hyperinflation significantly devalued the currency, a new manat with a fixed exchange rate was introduced, replacing the old manat on a ratio of 5,000 old manats = 1 new manat. Banknotes in this series were printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 manats. As part of an effort by the Turkmen government to dismantle Niyazov's extensive cult of personality and help politically disambiguate the current rule, only the highest valued banknote, 500 manats, bears a portrait of the former leader. The 500 manat note has yet to be released into circulation. The other denominations feature images of buildings in Ashgabat or technological achievements (TurkmenSat 1) and portraits of Ahmed Sanjar, Oghuz Khan, Magtymguly Pyragy and other figures in Turkmen history.^[5]

Exchange rates

• Before Apr 2009: US$1 = 1.04 manat
• Apr 2009 - Jan 2015: US$1 = 2.85 manats
• Jan 2015 onwards: US$1 = 3.5 manats

A black market for exchange rate exists as cash exchanges are forbidden by law in Turkmenistan. The parallel exchange rate varied between 40–41m per U.S. dollar as of 10 April 2021^[update].^[12]