Sixteen marble columns under a single span, topped by figures of storks: the Ezgulik Arch on Tashkent’s Mustaqillik Square became the subject of the 100 som of 2009, issued for the 2200th anniversary of the Uzbek capital.

The anniversary gained international standing: in November 2007 the 34th session of the UNESCO General Conference decided to celebrate the 2200th anniversary of the city, and the 2009 festivities coincided with Uzbekistan’s Independence Day. The Central Bank responded with two 100 som coins, one with the Ezgulik Arch and one with the Mustaqillik va Ezgulik monument.

Above the arch is the denomination «100», below it «soʻm», and around runs the legend «TOSHKENT SHAHRINING 2200 YILLIGI» (2200th anniversary of the city of Tashkent). The word ezgulik means goodness and humanism. The other side carries the state emblem, the legend «OʻZBEKISTON MARKAZIY BANKI», the date and a ring of 72 raised dots.

The edge is as carefully planned as the design: it bears one hundred reeds grouped in tens, one for each som of the face value. The coin circulated until 1 July 2019.

Grade VF-AU ranges from noticeable wear on the raised parts with sharp lettering to light rubbing on the highest points only. Together with its companion coin showing the Mustaqillik va Ezgulik monument, this piece completes the Tashkent anniversary pair of 2009.

A themed selection that includes this coin is easy to expand with other items from the VPcoins catalogue.