What is the currency of Tajikistan?

The currency of Tajikistan is the Tajikistani somoni.

The somoni, abbreviated SM and identified internationally by the code TJS, is divided into 100 dirams. It is issued by the National Bank of Tajikistan. The name honors Ismail Samani, a tenth-century ruler associated with the Samanid state and celebrated as an important figure in Tajik national history.

Tajikistan introduced the somoni on 30 October 2000, replacing the Tajik rouble at a rate of 1 somoni to 1,000 roubles. The new currency was part of the country’s effort to establish a more stable and distinct monetary system after independence from the Soviet Union. Diram banknotes appeared at the same time, while circulating coins followed in 2001.

The word “somoni” is sometimes shortened to “som,” but that can cause confusion because som is the currency name used in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan uses the manat. The precise quiz answer is therefore Tajikistani somoni, rather than one of those neighboring Central Asian currencies.

Modern denominations include somoni banknotes such as SM 10, SM 20, SM 50, SM 100, SM 200, and SM 500. Coins include 50 dirams and SM 1, SM 3, and SM 5.