BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 23. The first
banknote in the world designed based on carpet motifs belongs to
Azerbaijan, Eldar Mikayilzade, a People's Artist of Azerbaijan and
the designer of the first national banknotes issued following the
restoration of independence, told Trend in an interview.


“Following the collapse of the USSR, an unspoken race unfolded
among the newly independent republics: who would be the first to
print and put their own currency into circulation? After all, the
issuance of a national currency serves as the seal of independence,
a definitive sign of its irreversibility. The hallmarks of this
irreversible independence are a nation’s flag, its coat of arms,
and its national currency. In this regard, Azerbaijan was among the
frontrunners,” he said.


According to Mikayilzade, work was carried out simultaneously on
the designs for banknotes of several different denominations during
the initial stage, specifically, the 1, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and
1,000 manat notes.


He explained that his decision to prioritize carpet motifs in
the design of the first national banknotes stemmed from a search
for unique modes of expression within Azerbaijani art. He noted
that he considers carpet compositions to be a form of art that
constitutes the foundation of the nation's culture.


"In Europe, orchestras are tuned based on a reference
instrument, such as a grand piano or piano, to which the other
instruments align. In our national orchestra, the tar serves as
this foundational reference. I believed that a similar 'anchor' was
necessary in the realm of visual art. The carpet is the 'mother
tongue' of Azerbaijan. I frequently express this idea, and I truly
believe in it," he remarked.


Mikayılzade mentioned that the Maiden Tower was one of the
central design elements featured on the first banknotes. This
choice was not solely the artist's personal decision; the state's
perspective regarding which symbol should serve as the primary
emblem was also taken into account. The artist noted that there
were other alternatives considered for the central design
element.


"There were other options as well. Sketches featuring patterns,
as well as designs depicting the Government House and the
Presidential Administration, had been prepared. However, Baku is
known for the Maiden Tower. In terms of history, beauty, and logic,
this was a very sound choice," the People's Artist emphasized.



Mikayılzade donated the entire honorarium he was due to receive
for the design of the banknotes to the Karabakh Defense Fund.


According to him, Galib Aghayev, the then-chairman of the
National Bank, invited him in and asked him to sign the necessary
paperwork to process the payment. Mikayılzade, however, declined
the money and submitted a formal written statement to that
effect.


"He told me that an honorarium had been allocated for me and
asked me to sign for it. Right there on the spot, I said that I was
declining it. He replied that it couldn't be done that way; I had
to submit a formal written request. So, I wrote a request. At that
time, the Karabakh Defense Fund had been established, and I
requested that the funds be transferred there. To be honest, I
never even asked about the amount. I knew, of course, that being
the creator of the currency was an honorable and prestigious
distinction, and that the honorarium would likely be substantial,
but I never even inquired as to how much it actually was," he
said.







Mikayılzade noted that he personally brought the "specimen"
banknotes, the initial samples, from France. These were unnumbered
samples, ranging from 1 to 250 manat, all bearing a "zero" series
designation. Subsequently, a state commission was established to
oversee the delivery of the entire batch of banknotes, which were
then transported to Azerbaijan via a special aircraft.


According to the People's Artist, the final banknote he designed
was the 1,000-manat note. He later observed that his earlier
sketches had also been utilized for the 10,000-manat banknote.
Nevertheless, not all of the sketches prepared during the initial
phase were put into circulation.


The People's Artist also reacted positively to the nicknames
given to the banknotes by the public. He noted that referring to
certain notes as "Mammad," "Nizami," and "Shirvan" serves as an
indication that these currency notes had become integrated into
people's daily lives.



"It’s customary among us to give nicknames. When people feel
affection for someone or come to regard them as close, they alter
their name to create an endearing form. Since money has become an
integral part of the people's lives, it is only natural that it has
been given a name. To me, this is a welcome development; it
signifies that the banknote has become familiar and close to the
people; it has effectively become a part of our folklore," he
emphasized.


Addressing the question of whether the first national banknotes
contained hidden symbols, Mikayılzade explained that the primary
distinguishing feature of this currency was that its design was
rooted in traditional national decorative arts and carpet
motifs.


"There are established conventions in the global art of currency
design, which most nations follow. The currency issued during the
era of Tsarist Russia, as well as that of the Azerbaijan Democratic
Republic, was produced in accordance with these very design
principles," he noted.


According to Mikayilzade, the decision to center the design of
Azerbaijan’s first national banknotes on traditional national
ornaments represented a novel approach. He added that the extent to
which this choice would be appreciated on an international scale
remains to be seen over time.


"Of course, this is my subjective opinion, but I believe that by
basing the design of our paper currency on the art of national
ornamentation, we introduced a unique approach. At the time, many
didn’t notice this or understand why it looked the way it did.
Other countries, such as Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, might adopt
this style in the future, but this approach originated specifically
in Azerbaijan. As Charlie Chaplin once said, one cannot be first if
one is following in someone else's footsteps. They may well follow
in our footsteps, but the 'first' instance occurred in Azerbaijan,"
the People's Artist added.