The National Bank of Kazakhstan won the award for the Best New Banknote for the 10,000 tenge ‘Saka Style’ note issued earlier this year. It is the second banknote of the new ‘Saka Style’ series – which draws inspiration from elements of the ancient Saka culture, a key precursor to traditional Kazakh ornamentation . The series aims to evoke national pride, deepen cultural awareness, and promote environmental stewardship among Kazakhstan’s citizens.

The front of the note features a Tree of Life branch and soaring bird (signifying the sacred bond between nature and belief systems), a DNA spiral and infinity symbol (underscoring the intrinsic link between humanity and the natural environment), and a leopard on a mountain peak (symbolising fearlessness, power, and beauty).

The back of the banknote features a snow leopard and ornamental shield (representing the protection of values, cardinal directions, and the life-giving energy symbolised by the solar sign at the centre) and a leopard head with griffins (symbolising determination and strength). Central to the reverse side is the landscape of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, reflecting Kazakhstan’s natural beauty and ecological diversity. The intricate background features the Kazakh infinity ornament, encapsulating the nation’s vast and varied terrain.

Advanced security features include Louisenthal’s Varifeye® ColourChange Patch, which shimmers gold in direct light with the mountain top outlining appearing blue in translucent light, Crane Currency’s RAPID® Vision 5mm wide micro-optics windowed thread, and SICPA’s SPARK Flow® Dimension.

The banknotes have also been designed with accessibility in mind. Raised lines along the long edges help the visually impaired to identify the denomination, complemented by a larger, high-contrast numeral.