Kazakhstan - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Kazakhstan, a country located in Central Asia bordered by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea has a total land area of 1,052,085 square miles and a population of around 16.4 million. Just as the Kazakh terrain is varied with flat-lands, steppes, canyons, mountains and deserts, the country is ethnically and culturally diverse too.  Its rich accessible mineral resources has attracted world attention. The space station Mir and the Baikonour Cosmodrome space launch site is in its territory. Energy, grain, textiles, livestock, and uranium are the major contributors to the economy.

Travel Resources:

The best time to visit Kazakhstan is either in spring (Apr to June) or autumn (Sep - Oct). The major attractions of the place are its national parks, preserves and forests - Aisha Bibi, Aksu canyon, Charyn canyon, Altyn Emel etc. Meat cooked in various ways served with bread is a major segment of Kazakh cuisine. A traditional dinner is a wide variety of appetizers, soup and entrée of rice.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Kazakhstan Bradt Travel Guide	978-1841622347	$18	The best travel guide available for Kazakhstan.
Apples are from Kazakhstan: The Land that Disappeared	978-1934633939	$12	A great introduction to the country for Westerners through the author, Christopher Robbins’s travelogue.
Kazakhstan Travel Map	978-1553412694	$11	1:2.3M Scale.
Kazakhstan Grounded Adapter Plug	B001FD83FU	$8

Philatelic Profile:

Following the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the country declared independence on December 16, 1991. It started issuing stamps from March of 1992. The country has issued around 500 stamps in less than twenty years and most are valued very reasonably making it relatively easy to acquire a collection of all issues of Kazakhstan.

Stamps of Kazakhstan enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of six stamps released on November 11, 1993 in the Wildlife theme. The set (Scott #41 to #46) catalogs for around $2 MNH and used. The designs show Selevin’s mouse, porcupine, marbled polecat, Mongolian wild ass, Mouflon wild sheep, and cheetah.
2. A set of three stamps and a souvenir sheet released on September 27, 1996 showing Architectural Sites. The set (Scott #150 to #152) catalogs for around $7 MNH or used. The designs show Tomb from the 8th century, Mausoleum from the 11th century, Mausoleum form the 13th century, and Mosque from the 14th century.
3. A set of four stamps released in 1999 showing Trains. The set (Scott #262 to #265) catalogs for around $9 MNH or used. The designs show map depicting Orenburg-Tashkent rail line (1890-1906), steam train, diesel locomotive, bullet train, and interurban train.
4. A set of three stamps released in June 7, 2001 showing Owls. The set (Scott #330 to #332) catalogs for around $5 MNH or used. The designs show Eurasian eagle owl, long-eared owl, and northern hawk owl.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Kazakhstan were Brass Tyins (100 Tyin = 1 Tenge) introduced in 1993 showing National Emblem in Obverse and a Star Design that divides Date with Value within in Reverse. The coin is inexpensive and catalogs for less than a dollar in BU. The first gold coin was introduced in 1995 and depicts Value in Ornamental Frame in Obverse and Caravan of Camels around lined cross within circle in Reverse in the Silk Road theme. The issue catalogs for a slight premium over bullion value.

Numismatic items of Kazakhstan include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$1 and up	Common Tyins from the 1990s in UNC starts around $1. 50 Tenge Insignias from the 2000s in BU starts around $10. Silver Commemorative Proofs start around $50. Low Mintage Gold and Silver Proofs start around $100. Commemorative Gold Proofs, High Value Colored Silver Proofs, etc go well into the 100s and 1000s.
Paper Money	$2 and up	Common banknotes in UNC starts around $2. UNC Year Sets start around $10. Specimen Test Notes from the 2000s and certain error types start around $30. UNC Bundles, Rare First Issue UNCs, etc starts around $50. Very High Value Polymers, High Value Bundles, Rare Dates, and Scarce Specimens go into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Dolls in traditional clothing, handicrafts, rugs, carpets, music cd's, jewelry, leather accessories, belts, etc., are typical souvenirs of the place.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Rocks and Minerals	$15 and up	Smaller Garnet, Turquoise, etc samples start around $15. Agate Cabochons, Stellerite samples etc start around $30. Native Copper specimens, Emerald Green Dioptase-Altyn Tyube, Botryoidal Rhodocrhosite, etc start around $100 and go well into the 100s.

Last Updated: 12/2015.