The National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan announces the issue, effective from 13 November 2013, of the commemorative coins “Shurale" of the “Fair Tales of the Nations of Kazakhstan” series of coins – a silver coin of “proof” quality of the nominal value of KZT 500 and a coin made of nickel-silver of the nominal value of KZT 50.

“Shurale” silver coin and coin made of nickel-silver have identical images on the faces and reverses. Image on the silver coin of “proof” is placed on the mirrored surface.

In the central part of the face (obverse) of the coins there is the emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the lower part there is a figure (“500” on the silver coin and “50” on a silver-nickel coin) and a legend “TENGE”, which denote the coin nominal value. In the left and right sectors of the coin there is a mirrored element of the national ornament. On full-circle there is legend “ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ” (KAZAKSTAN RESPUBLIKASY”) in the state language and “РЕСПУБЛИКА КАЗАХСТАН” (REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN”) in the Russian language. The legends are separated by dots.

On the back side (reverse) of the coin, in the center thereof there are represented the characters of “Shurale” fairy tale; a number “2013” denoting the year of mintage and a logo of Kazakhstan Mint. In the upper part there is a legend “ШУРАЛЕ” (“SHURALE”) in the state language. In the lower part there is a legend “Ag 925 31,1 g”, which denotes the metal a coin is made of, its fineness and weight (on the silver coin).

The images and legends on the obverse and reverse of the coins are relief. There is a protruding edge on the full-circle. The commemorative coins are made of:

1) sterling silver, weight – 31.1 gram, diameter - 38,61 mm, quality of manufacture – “proof”, mintage - 4 thousand, lateral surface (gurt) is grooved;

2) nickel-silver alloy, diameter - 31 mm, weight – 11.17 gram, mintage – 100 thousand, lateral surface (gurt) is grooved.

Commemorative coins of the nominal value of KZT 500 and 50 are mandatory for acceptance at their face value throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan for all types of payments as well as for credit to the accounts, placement on deposits, for letters of credit and for money transfers; they are changed and exchanged without limitation in all banks of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Shurala also spelled Shurale (Cyrillic: Шүрәле or Шурале, Tatar: Şüräle, Turkish: Şürele), is a male monster (a forest demon) in Bashkir and Tatar mythology. According to legends, Şüräle lives in forests. He has long fingers, a horn on its forehead, and a woolly body. He lures victims to a thicket and tickles them to death. Şüräle closely resembles other similar characters from the folklore such as Arçuri of the Chuvashes, Pitsen (Picen) of the Siberian Tatars and Yarımtıq of the Ural Tatars.

Source of information: The National bank of Kazakhstan www.nationalbank.kz