Kazakhstan. New Silver Proof Coins Celebrate 30 Years of the National Parliament

Entitled Memorable Events and Unique People, the latest coin focuses on the founding of the National Parliament. The 30^th January 2026 marks 30 years since the first session of the Kazakhstan Parliament, which is the highest representative body of the country exercising legislative functions. Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country by land area and the largest landlocked country. Prior to the establishment of the Kazakhstan parliament, the republic was governed by a unicameral Supreme Soviet, first established in 1938 under the 1937 Constitution of the Kazakh SSR. Kazakhstan was the last constituent republic of the Soviet Union to declare independence in December 1991 days before the USSR was formally abolished.

The newly recognised president saw a need to dissolve all legacy former soviet councils and on the 16th November 1993, the District Council Soviet of Almaty issued an appeal to deputies at all levels, to resign their posts with more than 25% of council deputies resigning. Finally, in December 1993, the Supreme Soviet decided to dissolve itself, transferring all powers to the president until new elections could be held.

Through a constitutional referendum held on the 30th August 1995 which resulted in the adoption of a new draft of the Constitution, a bicameral parliament was introduced. This new legislative body would replace the previous unicameral structure as well as relocating the country’s capital city from Almaty to Astana. This newly established Parliament convened for its first session on 30 January 1996, laying the foundation for Kazakhstan’s new legislative system under the revised Constitution.  

The Parliament of Kazakhstan consists of the upper house of the Senate and the lower house referred to as the Mäjilis. The Senate includes 50 members of which, 40 are elected and 10 are appointed by the serving President who serve a term of 6 year. The Mäjilis includes 98 elected deputies who serve terms of 5 years utilising a mixed electoral system. Together, they exercise legislative power, debate laws, approve budgets, and oversee government functions.

Both commemorative coin denominations are produced by the National Mint of Kazakhstan at their facilities in Oskemen, East Kazakhstan on behalf of the National Bank. The obverse side of the coin depicts the two primary buildings of the Senate and Majlis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Above the design is a stylised ornamental representation of the floors of the senate and majlis as seen from above. Below the buildings is a commemorative design that includes the years 1996 and 2026 along with the gold-plated numeral 30 and the scripted word жыл (years) in reference to the anniversary. Surrounding the primary design is the inscription ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫҢ ПАРЛАМЕНТІ (Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and along the rim is a linear circular pattern. The reverse side features the national crest of the Republic of Kazakhstan centred and surrounded by the text QAZAQSTAN RESPÝBLIKASY with the denomination 1000 TENGE placed below the crest. To the left of the denomination is the logo of the Kazakhstan National bank and to the right, the specifications of the coin Ag 925 24 g.  Below the coin’s face value is the year of issue, 2025. The primary design is surrounded along the rim by the matching linear circular pattern as seen on the obverse.

Available from the 26^th December, the coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.