# Mongolian tögrög

The tögrög (Mongolian: ᠲᠥᠭᠦᠷᠢᠭ төгрөг; sign: ₮; code: MNT), also spelt tugrug or tugrik, is the official currency of Mongolia.
It was historically subdivided into 100 möngö (ᠮᠥᠩᠭᠦ мөнгө). Currently, the lowest denomination in regular use is the 10-tögrög note, and the highest is the 20,000-tögrög note. In Unicode, the currency sign is U+20AE ₮ TUGRIK SIGN.

## Etymology

The word tögrög refers to 'circle' or 'circular object' (i.e., a coin). Today, it is rarely used outside of referring to the currency, with the exception of the phrase tögrög sar (төгрөг сар), meaning 'full moon'.

## History

The tögrög was introduced on December 9, 1925, at a value equal to one Soviet ruble, where one ruble or tögrög was equal to 18 grams (0.58 ozt) of silver. It replaced the Mongolian dollar and other currencies and became the sole legal currency on April 1, 1928.
Möngö coins are no longer in circulation as currency, owing to their negligible value. Today, they are sold online and to tourists as collectibles.
In 2010, the tögrög rose 15% against the US dollar, due to the growth of the mining industry in Mongolia. However, its exchange rate eroded by 24% from early 2013 to June 2014 due to falling foreign investment and mining revenue.

## Coins

During socialism, the tögrög coin denominations were 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 möngö, and 1 tögrög. After the Mongolian People's Republic came to an end in 1992 and inflation surged, möngö coins were abandoned and larger tögrög values introduced.
Coin Series during the People's Republic of Mongolia era :
| Images | Series | Composition | Obverse | Reverse | Date recalled | Valueless since | Script | Minted in | Calendar used |
| | 1925 | 1-5 möngö: copper 10-20 möngö: 0.5 silver 50 möngö, 1 tögrög: 90% silver | Soyombo | Value | 1950 | 1970 | Mongolian | Soviet Union | Mongolian Year 15 |
| | 1937 | 1-5 möngö: aluminium bronze 10-20 möngö: cupronickel | Soyombo | Value | 1960 | 1970 | Mongolian | Soviet Union | Mongolian Year 27 |
| | 1945 | 1-5 möngö: aluminium bronze 10-20 möngö: cupronickel | coat of arms, "Бүгд Найрамдах Монгол Ард Улс" (People's Republic of Mongolia) | Value | 1970 | 1970 | Cyrillic | Soviet Union | Mongolian Year 35 |
| | 1959 | Aluminium | coat of arms, "Бүгд Найрамдах Монгол Ард Улс" (People's Republic of Mongolia) | Value | 1990 | 1990 | Cyrillic | P.R. China | Common Era |
| , | 1970, 77, 80, 81 | 1-5 möngö: aluminium 10-50 möngö: cupronickel | coat of arms, state title in short (БНМАУ) for 1-5 möngö, in full for 10-50 möngö | Value | — | — | Cyrillic | 1970, 77: East Germany 1980, 81: Mongolia | Common Era |
| | Circulating & commemorative 1 tögrög | 1971: aluminium bronze, cupronickel, silver, or gold 1981: aluminium bronze | coat of arms, full state title, value | "БНМАУ", Damdin Sükhbaatar on a horse, "50 ЖИЛ" or "60 ЖИЛ" depending on the year | ? | ? | Cyrillic | 1971: East Germany 1981: Mongolia | — |
| | 1981–88: 1 tögrög with various commemorative subjects | Aluminium bronze | coat of arms, full state title, value | 6 designs, such as Karl Marx, Soviet-Mongolian space flight, etc. | ? | ? | Cyrillic | Mongolia | Common Era |
Current Coins :
| Image | Image | Value | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Technical parameters | Description | Description | Description | Date of first minting |
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Diameter | Thickness | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Date of first minting |
| | | 20 tögrög | 17.5 mm | 1.5 mm | 0.78 g | Aluminium | Plain | Value | Soyombo | 1994 |
| | | 50 tögrög | 23 mm | 1.8 mm | 1.68 g | Aluminium | Plain | Value | Soyombo | 1994 |
| | | 100 tögrög | 22 mm | 1.5 mm | 3.84 g | Cupronickel | Plain | Value, Janraisig Temple | Soyombo | 1994 |
| | | 200 tögrög | 25 mm | 1.7 mm | 6.2 g | Cupronickel | Plain | Value, the Government House | Soyombo | 1994 |
| | | 500 tögrög | 22 mm | 1.7 mm | 4.1 g | Cupronickel | Smooth | Value, Soyombo | Damdin Sükhbaatar | 2001 |
| For table standards, see the coin specification table. |||||||||||

## Banknotes

Like coins, the tögrög banknotes were very similar to the Soviet ruble during the Mongolian People's Republic era. The similarities included color theme, overall design, and the lineup of the denominations, which were 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 tögrög unless stated otherwise. The color for each value is
* 1 tögrög: brown
* 3 tögrög: green
* 5 tögrög: blue
* 10 tögrög: red
* 20 tögrög: green
* 25 tögrög: lilac
* 50 tögrög: green
* 100 tögrög: brown
Formerly, all banknotes were printed in the Soviet Union. Modern tögrög banknotes are generally printed in the United Kingdom.
Banknote Series during the People's Republic of Mongolia era :
| Series | Obverse | Reverse | Date recalled | Valueless since | Script | Calendar used | Remark |
| 1925 | Soyombo, value | Value | 1940 | 1966 | Mongolian | Common Era | 2 tögrög in green instead of 3 tögrög |
| 1939 | Soyombo, Sükhbaatar | Value | 1955 | 1966 | Mongolian | Common Era and Mongolian Year 29 | 25 tögrög in brown |
| 1941 | Coat of arms, Sükhbaatar | Value | ? | ? | Both | Common Era and Mongolian Year 31 | 25 tögrög in brown |
| 1955 | Coat of arms, Sükhbaatar | Value | 1966 | 1966 | Cyrillic | Common Era | 25 tögrög in blue on obverse, brown on reverse |
| 1966 | Coat of arms, Sükhbaatar except 1 tögrög | Value for 1-25 tögrög, the Government House for 50 and 100 tögrög | — | — | Both | Common Era | |
| 1981, 83 | Coat of arms, Sükhbaatar except 1 tögrög | As above, except industrial theme for 20 tögrög | — | — | Both | Common Era | 20 tögrög in green instead of 25 tögrög |
1993 Series :
| Image$^1$ | Image$^1$ | Value | Dimensions | Main Color | Description | Description | Description | Date of printing$^2$ | Usage |
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions | Main Color | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of printing$^2$ | Usage |
| | | 10 möngö | 45 × 90 mm | Pink | Soyombo, Archery | Archery | — | 1993 | Very rare in circulation. Abundant among collectors. |
| | | 20 möngö | 45 × 90 mm | Yellow-brown | Soyombo, Wrestling | Wrestling | — | 1993 | Very rare in circulation. Abundant among collectors. |
| | | 50 möngö | 45 × 90 mm | Green-cyan | Soyombo, Horse riding | Horse riding | — | 1993 | Very rare in circulation. Abundant among collectors. |
| | | 1 tögrög (neg) | 115 × 57 mm | Yellow-brown | Lion | Soyombo, Paiza | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2008, 2014 | Very rare in circulation. Abundant among collectors. |
| | | 5 tögrög (tavan) | 120 × 60 mm | Orange | Sükhbaatar, Soyombo, Paiza | Mountainous landscape and horses eating grass | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2008, 2014 | Rarely used anywhere but in banks |
| | | 10 tögrög (arvan) | 125 × 61 mm | Green | Sükhbaatar, Soyombo, Paiza | Mountainous landscape and horses eating grass | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017$^3$, 2018, 2020 | The smallest commonly used note |
| | | 20 tögrög (horin) | 130 × 64 mm | Reddish purple | Sükhbaatar, Soyombo, Paiza | Mountainous landscape and horses eating grass | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017$^3$, 2018, 2020 | |
| | | 50 tögrög (tavin) | 135 × 66 mm | Brown | Sükhbaatar, Soyombo, Paiza | Mountainous landscape and horses eating grass | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016,$^3$ 2019, 2020 | |
| | | 100 tögrög (zuun) | 140 × 68 mm | Violet | Sükhbaatar, Soyombo, Paiza | Mountainous landscape and horses eating grass | Genghis Khan | 1993, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016,$^3$ 2019, 2020 | |
| | | 500 tögrög (tavan zuun) | 145 × 70 mm | Green | Genghis Khan, Soyombo, Paiza | Mongolian yurts in motion | Genghis Khan | 1993, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013 2000$^3$, 2003$^4$, 2013, 2016, 2020 | |
| | | 1000 tögrög (myangan) | 150 × 72 mm | Blue | Genghis Khan, Soyombo, Paiza | Mongolian yurts in motion | Genghis Khan | 1993, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020 2003$^4$ | |
| | | 5000 tögrög (tavan myangan) | 150 × 72 mm | Pink-purple | Genghis Khan, Soyombo, Paiza | "Drinking Fountain" at Genghis Khan's court | Genghis Khan | 1994, 2003, 2013, 2018$^4$ | |
| | | 10,000 tögrög (arvan myangan) | 150 × 72 mm | goldish yellow | Genghis Khan, Soyombo, Paiza | "Drinking Fountain" at Genghis Khan's court | Genghis Khan | 1995, 2002, 2009, 2014$^4$, 2021 | |
| | | 20,000 tögrög (horin myangan) | 151 × 72 mm | Lime and purple | Genghis Khan, Soyombo, Paiza | Nine White Banner | Genghis Khan | 2006, 2009, 2013,$^4$ 2019 | |
| For table standards, see the banknote specification table. ||||||||||

### Remarks

* Images shown are the earliest variations of each value
* Issued dates are listed for up to 2003. It is known that there is a 2005 edition of 10 tögrög, but it is yet unclear whether or not it was the only value for the 2005 edition.
* Lower value notes (10 ~ 500 tögrög) issued in 2000 and after have line-patterned color underprint on the entire note, where the previous edition had near-white solid color. But one exception to the rule is the 2000 edition of 500 tögrög.
* High value notes (500 ~ 10,000 tögrög) issued in 2002 and after have a patch on the lower right hand side of obverse as an improved anti-counterfeit device, which used to be printed only on the two highest values. The new patch is also more sophisticated than the ones in the 1990s. The Soyombo symbol was upgraded to a hologram on the two highest values. On series 2018 5000 tögrög, the hologram was changed to an OVMI ink.