NB explains how to distinguish the new 500 tenge from fake banknotes

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has described the features of the new 500 tenge banknote from the "Saka Style" series and reminded citizens of the primary methods for verifying its authenticity, El.kz reports.

The National Bank noted that the new bill has been in circulation since December 25, 2025, and is the fifth banknote in the "Saka Style" series. Its design is based on artistic elements of the Saka culture, which is considered one of the origins of traditional Kazakh ornamentation and reflects the country's historical heritage from the culture of ancient nomads to modern Kazakhstan.

For independent authentication, the regulator recommends paying attention to several security features.

One of these is the local watermark. When viewing the bill against the light, an image of the banknote's denomination becomes visible.

Additionally, convex high-relief elements are located along the edges of the front side. These are clearly distinguishable by touch and are designed, among other things, for the visually impaired, helping them identify the denomination without visual inspection.

Another feature of the new bill is the use of gold intaglio technology. The State Emblem of Kazakhstan is applied with a high-relief layer of golden metallic ink, giving the element a characteristic texture that can be felt when touched.

The National Bank emphasized that the "feel, look, tilt" principle should be used to verify banknotes. This approach allows for a quick check of the main security features and reduces the risk of encountering counterfeit bills.