Turkmenistan 50 Manat 2005 banknote back (2), featuring , featuring an image of Akhal-Teke horse of Turkmen
HomeTurkmenistan – Yanardag – World Champion

Turkmenistan – Yanardag – World Champion

Turkmenistan 50 Manat Banknote – Face and Back
Turkmenistan 50 Manat 2005 banknote back (2), featuring , featuring an image of Akhal-Teke horse of Turkmen
Detail from back of 50 manat banknote of Turkmenistan.

The Akhal-Teke horse of Turkmen, with its distinctive metallic sheen, is renowned for speed endurance, intelligence and courage.

It’s ancestry dates back thousands of years.  Some consider it one of the original four horse “types” to have crossed the Bearing Strait from the Americas in prehistoric times.

It is said there are, currently, less than 7,000 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan and Russia.

closeup detail from Turkmenistan 50 Manat 2005 banknote front, featuring state emblem of Turkmenistan
The state emblem of Turkmenistan adorns the front side of the 50 manat banknote.

At the center of the Turkmenistan Emblem of State, within the blue circle, stands Yanardag, the Akhal-Teke horse born in the year of independence from the Soviet Union, 1991.

The Turkmen name, Yanardag, translates in to “Fiery Mountain”.

Yanardag was named world champion of the breed in 1999 and has become a symbol of national pride to Turkmenis.  He subsequently was acquired by Saparmurat Niazov, the president of Turkmenistan from 1990 through 2006.

Turkmenistan 50 Manat 2005 banknote back, featuring golden Akhal-Teke horse
Turkmenistan 50 manat banknote, back, featuring the magnificent Akhal-Teke horse.
Turkmenistan 50 Manat 2005 banknote front, featuring President Saparmurat Niazov. and the Turkmen coat of arms
Turkmenistan 50 manat banknote, featuring President Saparmurat Niazov. and the Turkmen coat of arms

Front: Former President Dictator Saparmurat Niazov. Turkmen coat of arms. 
Back: Akhal-Teke horse.
Hippodrome. Main colour: Purple. Watermark: Portrait of the deceased Turkmenbashi.