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500 Afghani 1990, Afghanistan

in Krause book Number: 60
Years of issue: 1990 - 1991
Edition:
Signatures: Governor: Zabihulla Eltizam, Minister of Finanse: Habibullah Mmali Achekzai
Serie: No Serie
Specimen of: 1990
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 150 x 67
Printer: Петроградская бумажная фабрика (1914-1924), Петроград

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500 Afghani 1990

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500 Afghani 1990

emblem da afghanistan bank

Emblem of Da Afghanistan Bank is on top.

Is is an ancient coin from the period of the Great King Eukridates. On the top of a semi-circle is an Arabic inscription: Da Afghanistan Bank. Two cornucopia with some gold coins at the bottom. The year of establishment of the bank are on right and left sides.

buzkashiOn right side is Buzkashi or Kokpar. It is the Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to drag a goat carcass toward a goal. Traditionally, games could last for several days, but in its more regulated tournament version also has a limited match time. Buzkashi is the national sport and a "passion" in Afghanistan where it is often played on Fridays and matches draw thousands of fans. Whitney Azoy notes in his book "Buzkashi: Game and Power in Afghanistan:.... (that) leaders are men who can seize control by means foul and fair and then fight off their rivals. The Buzkashi rider does the same". During the rule of the Taliban regime, Buzkashi was banned in Afghanistan, as the Taliban considered the game immoral. Since the Taliban regime was ousted, the game is now being played again.

The Rules introduced by Afghan Olympic Federation:

1)The ground has a square layout with each side 400 meters long.

2)Each team consists of 10 riders each.

3)Only five riders from each team can play in a half.

4)The total duration of each half is 45 minutes.

5)There is only one 15 minute break between the two halves.

6)The game is supervised by a referee. Based on the referee's decision a rider can be substituted during the game.

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500 Afghani 1990

Bala Hissar is an ancient fortress located in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan. The estimated date of construction is around the 5th century A.D. Bala Hissar sits to the south of the modern city centre at the tail end of the Kuh-e-Sherdarwaza Mountain. The Walls of Kabul, which are 20 feet (6.1 m.) high and 12 feet (3.7 m.) thick, start at the fortress and follow the mountain ridge in a sweeping curve down to the river. It sports a set of gates for access to the fortress.

Bala Hissar was originally divided into two parts: The lower fortress, containing the stables, barracks and three royal palaces, and the upper fortress (the actual fort with the name Bala Hissar) housing the armory and the dungeon of Kabul, known as the "Black Pit" (the Siyah Chal).

Kabul's Bala HissarThe Sha-Said Gate of the Bala Hissar at Kabul in 1879

"Kabul's Bala Hissar, rising 150 feet above the plain, witnessed most of the exciting events of Afghanistan's history up until the spring of 1880. Babur, founder of the Moghul Empire of India, lived here early in the XVI century. He loved it well, did much to embellish it, and wrote poetry extolling its commanding view. Succeeding kings alternately ruled from it or languished in its dungeons. Then, on that fateful day in September 1879, a British Representative, Sir Louis Cavagnari, and his escort, were cut down in one of its palaces on the southern side. This vivid protest against British interference in Afghan affairs brought a British army to occupy the Bala Hissar, hang rebellious chieftains from gallows erected in its courtyards, and to close its story the following spring when they demolished it as "a lasting memorial of our ability to avenge our countrymen" (General Roberts)". (Nancy Hatch-Dupree, "An Historical Guide to Kabul", 1972)

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Interesting fact:

Afghanistan has no official language. Population speaks several languages, including: Persian, Uzbek, Turkmen and others.