The manat (; abbreviation: m; code: TMT) is the currency of Turkmenistan. The original manat was introduced on 1 November 1993, replacing the ruble at a rate of 1 manat = Rbls 500. The manat is subdivided into 100 tenge ().
Due to heavy inflation a new manat was introduced on 1 January 2009 at the rate of 5,000 old manats to 1 new manat.
Etymology
The word "manat" is derived from the Russian word монета ("moneta") meaning "coin," which derived from Latin Monēta. It was used as the name of the Soviet currency in Turkmen () and in Azerbaijani.
Coins
In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tenge. The 1, 5, and 10 tenge were struck in copper-plated-steel, with the higher denominations in nickel-plated-steel. This first series of coins was short lived as their metal value soon became worth more than their actual face value. After a period of high inflation, new coins of 500 and 1,000 manats were introduced in 1999. All coins of this period had to depict the incumbent president by law.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
!colspan="8"| Coins of the Turkmen manat (First manat)
|-
!colspan="2"| Image !!rowspan="2"| Value !!rowspan="2"| Diameter (millimeters)!!rowspan="2"| Composition !!colspan="2"| Description !!rowspan="2"| Date of issue
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 40px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 40px
| 1 tenge
| 16 mm
| rowspan="3" | Copper-plated steel
| rowspan="3" | Saparmurat Niyazov
| rowspan="3" | Value in center of flower-like design within circle
| rowspan="3" | 1993
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 49px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 49px
| 5 tenge
| 19.5 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 56px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 56px
| 10 tenge
| 22.5 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"|52px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 52px
| 20 tenge
| 20.9 mm
| rowspan="2" | Nickel-plated steel
| rowspan="4" |Saparmurat Niyazov
|Value in center of flower-like design within circle
| rowspan="2" |1993
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
| 50 tenge
| 24 mm
| Value above Cornucopia with a goat head
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 52px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 52px
| 500 manat
| 20.9 mm
| rowspan="2" | Nickel-clad steel
| rowspan="2" | Denomination, date below
| rowspan="2" | 1999
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
| 1,000 manat
| 24 mm
|-
|colspan="8"|
|}
During the monetary reform of 2009, new coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tenge were issued with bimetallic 1 and 2 manats following in 2010. The 1, 2, and 5 tenge coins are nickel-plated steel while the 10, 20, and 50 tenge coins are struck in brass. Instead of depicting the current head of state, the coins feature a map of Turkmenistan with the Independence Tower superimposed in front of it. All circulating coins of Turkmenistan are struck by the Royal Mint.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
!colspan="8"| Coins of the Turkmen manat (Second manat)
|-
!colspan="2"| Image !!rowspan="2"| Value !!rowspan="2"| Diameter (millimeters)!!rowspan="2"| Composition !!colspan="2"| Description !!rowspan="2"| Date of issue
|-
! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 40px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 40px
| 1 tenge
| 16 mm
| rowspan="3" | Nickel-plated steel
| rowspan="8" | Monument of Independence superimposed on the map of Turkmenistan, the text , meaning "Independent Neutral Turkmenistan"
| rowspan="8" | Denomination and date
| rowspan="6" | 2009
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 45px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 45px
| 2 tenge
| 18 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 50px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 50px
| 5 tenge
| 20 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"|55px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 55px
| 10 tenge
| 22 mm
| rowspan="3" | Brass
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 60px
| 20 tenge
| 24 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 65px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 65px
| 50 tenge
| 26 mm
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 68px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 68px
| 1 manat
| 27 mm
| Bimetallic: copper-nickel center in brass ring
| 2010
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 70px
|align="center" bgcolor="white"| 70px
| 2 manat
| 28 mm
| Bimetallic: brass center in copper-nickel ring
|2010
|-
|colspan="8"|
|}
Banknotes
First manat (TMM, 1993—2009)
In 1993, manat notes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 manat, replacing the Soviet ruble. These were followed by notes for 1,000 manat in 1995 and 5,000 and 10,000 manat in 1996. In 2005, a new series of notes was introduced in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 manat. All notes, with exception of the 1 and 5 manat banknotes bear a portrait of former president Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov Turkmenbashi. All Turkmen banknotes are produced by the De La Rue printing and banknote company.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
!colspan="10"| Banknotes of the Turkmenistan manat (First manat)
|-
!colspan="2"| Image !!rowspan="2"| Value !!rowspan="2"| Dimensions (millimeters)!!rowspan="2"| Main Color !!colspan="2"| Description !!rowspan="2"| Date of issue !!rowspan="2"| Date of first issue !!rowspan="2"| Watermark
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse !! Obverse !! Reverse
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-1-manat-banknote-1993.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-1-manat-banknote-1993.html]
| 1 manat
| 120 × 60 mm
| Orange and red
| Ylymlar academy, Aşgabat
| Ilarslanyn Ýadygarligi mausoleum
| rowspan="3" | 1993
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-5-manat-banknote-1993.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-5-manat-banknote-1993.html]
| 5 manat
| 125 × 62.5 mm
| Blue
| Bazçylyk Okuw Polytechnic Institute, Aşgabat
| Abu Seýidiň mausoleum
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10-manat-banknote-1993-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10-manat-banknote-1993-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 10 manat
| 133 × 66 mm
| Brown
| Turkmenistan Relationship building (Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov (1940–2006)
| Tekesiň mausoleum
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-20-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-20-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 20 manat
| 139 × 69 mm
| Blue and white
| National library (Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov
| Astanababa mausoleum
| rowspan="4" | 1993<br />1995
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-50-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-50-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 50 manat
| 144 × 72 mm
| Orange and brown
| Soviet Honor monument, President Saparmurat Niyazov
| Anew mosque
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-100-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-100-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 100 manat
| 150 × 75 mm
| Blue and orange
| Prezident Köşgi (President's Palace, Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov
| Sultan Sanjariň mausoleum
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-500-manat-banknote-1993-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-500-manat-banknote-1993-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 500 manat
| rowspan="7" | 156 × 78 mm
| Red and violet
| National theatre (Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov
| Törebeg Hanymyň mausoleum
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-1000-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-1000-manat-banknote-1995-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 1,000 manat
| Green and red
| rowspan="3" | Prezident Köşgi (President's Palace, Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov
| rowspan="3" | National emblem of Turkmenistan
| 1995
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-5000-manat-banknote-2000-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-5000-manat-banknote-2000-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| 5,000 manat
| Violet
| 1996
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10000-manat-banknote-1996-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10000-manat-banknote-1996-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| rowspan="4"|10,000 manat
| rowspan="3"|Blue and brown
| 1996<br />1999<br />2000
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-10000-manat-banknote-1998-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-10000-manat-banknote-1998-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| rowspan="3"|Türkmenbaşi Köşgi (Turkmenbashi's Palace, Aşgabat), President Saparmurat Niyazov
| Saparmurat Haji mosque
| 1998<br />1999
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-10000-manat-banknote-2000-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-currency-money-10000-manat-banknote-2000-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| Neutrality Monument, Ruhyýet Palace, Aşgabat
| 2000
|
|
|-
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10000-manat-banknote-2003-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
|align="center" | [https://moneycurrencypictures.blogspot.com/2018/10/turkmenistan-money-currency-10000-manat-banknote-2003-turkmenbashi-president-saparmurat-niyazov.html]
| Light brown
| Monument of Independence and Peace, Aşgabat
| 2003<br />2005
|
|
|-
|}
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.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|+Banknotes of the first manat, second issue
|-
! colspan="2"|Image
! rowspan="2"|Value
! rowspan="2"|Dimensions
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Main colour
! colspan="3"|Description
! colspan="3"|Date of
! rowspan="2"|
|-
! style="max-width:109px;width:109px"|Obverse
! style="max-width:109px;width:109px"|Reverse
! Obverse
! Reverse
! style="width:10%"|Watermark
! printing
! issue
! withdrawal
|-
| style="background:#000;text-align:right"|101px
| style="background:#000"|101px
| 50 manat
| 144 × 72 mm
| style="background:#C080FF;width:0"| || Purple
| rowspan="5" | Emblem of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov
| Yanardag, Aşgabat Hippodrome
| rowspan="5" | Saparmurat Niyazov and his signature
| rowspan="5" | 2005
| rowspan="5" | c. 2005
| rowspan="5" | 31 December 2010
| rowspan="5" |
|-
| style="background:#000;text-align:right"|105px
| style="background:#000"|105px
| 100 manat
| 150 × 75 mm
| style="background:#FF8080"| || Red
| Central Bank building, Ashgabat
|-
| style="background:#000"|109px
| style="background:#000"|109px
| 500 manat
| rowspan="3" | 156 × 78 mm
| style="background:#C0A080"| || Brown
| Turkmen jewellery
|-
| style="background:#000"|109px
| style="background:#000"|109px
| 1,000 manat
| style="background:#80C080"| || Green
| rowspan="2" | Oguzhan Presidential Palace, Aşgabat
|-
| style="background:#000"|109px
| style="background:#000"|109px
| 5,000 manat
| style="background:#80C0FF"| || Blue
|-
|colspan="13"|
|}
Second manat (since 2009)
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.
In December 2025, polymer banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 200 manats were issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's declaration of neutrality.
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|+Banknotes of the second manat
|-
! colspan="2"|Image
! rowspan="2"|Value
! rowspan="2"|Dimensions
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Main colour
! colspan="3"|Description
! colspan="3"|Date of
! rowspan="2"|
|-
! style="max-width:109px;width:109px"|Obverse
! style="max-width:109px;width:109px"|Reverse
! Obverse
! Reverse
! style="width:10%"|Watermark
! printing
! issue
! withdrawal
|-
| rowspan="4" style="background:#000;text-align:right"|84px
| style="background:#000"|84px
| rowspan="4"|1 manat
| rowspan="4"|120 × 60 mm
| rowspan="4" style="background:#A0E080;width:0"| || rowspan="4"|Green and orange
| Emblem of Turkmenistan, Togrul Beg Türkmen
| Turkmenistan Cultural Centre, Ashgabat
| rowspan="3"|Togrul Beg Türkmen, crescent moon and five stars from the flag, denomination
|
| 1 January 2009
| rowspan="22" |Current
|
|-
| style="background:#000"|84px
| As above, with the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games logo
| Ashgabat International Airport, TurkmenSat 1
| 2017
| 17 September 2017
|
|-
| style="background:#000"|84px
| As above, with the 25th anniversary of neutrality logo
| rowspan="2"|Turkmenbashi International Seaport, TurkmenSat 1
| 2020
| 12 December 2020
|
|-
| style="background:#000"|
| As above, with the 30th anniversary of neutrality logo
| Togrul Beg Türkmen
| 2025
| 1 December 2025
|
|-
| rowspan="4" style="background:#000;text-align:right"|88px
| style="background:#000"|88px
| rowspan="4"|5 manat
| rowspan="4"|126 × 63 mm
| rowspan="4" style="background:#C0A080"| || rowspan="4"|Brown
| Emblem of Turkmenistan, Soltan Sanjar Türkmen
| Independence and Neutrality Monuments, Ashgabat
| rowspan="3"|Soltan Sanjar Türkmen, crescent moon and five stars from the flag, denomination
|
| 1 January 2009
|
|-
| rowspan="4" style="background:#000;text-align:right"|92px
| style="background:#000"|92px
| rowspan="4"|10 manat
| rowspan="4"|132 × 66 mm
| rowspan="4" style="background:#FF8080"| || rowspan="4"|Red
| Emblem of Turkmenistan, Magtymguly Pyragy
| Central Bank building, Ashgabat
| rowspan="3"|Magtymguly Pyragy, crescent moon and five stars from the flag, denomination
|
| 1 January 2009
|
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background:#000;text-align:right"|97px
| style="background:#000"|97px
| rowspan="3"|20 manat
| rowspan="3"|138 × 69 mm
| rowspan="3" style="background:#C080FF"| || rowspan="3"|Purple
| Emblem of Turkmenistan, Görogly Beg Türkmen
| Rukhyet Palace, Ashgabat
| rowspan="3"|Görogly Beg Türkmen, crescent moon and five stars from the flag, denomination
|
| 1 January 2009
|
|-
| style="background:#000"|109px
| style="background:#000"|109px
| 500 manat
| 156 × 78 mm
| style="background:#FFC080"| || Orange
| Emblem of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov
| Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Gypjak
| Saparmurat Niyazov, crescent moon and five stars from the flag, denomination
| 2009
| colspan="2"|Never issued
|
|-
|colspan="13"|
|}
Exchange rates
The exchange rate is fixed.
- 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 .
See also
- Economy of Turkmenistan
- Azerbaijani manat
Notes
References
External links
- Currency samples — images of the new 2025 polymer Manat
- New currency samples - images of the new 2009 Manat
