Human imagination is capable of transforming even the most boring and ordinary objects into something beautiful and unique, which is only confirmed by unusual money from different countries of the world. A variety of forms and denominations, original appearance and images - over the centuries-old history of existence, what only means of payment have been!
Unique banknotes
The most ancient, among those that have survived to this day, is considered to be a paper Chinese banknote, which was in circulation in 1380. Since then, people have come up with different shapes, sizes, designs, and names for them. Money can be so unusual and original that sometimes it is even difficult to imagine their existence.
One hundred million billion
In 1946, the highest inflation rate in history was recorded in Hungary, which, of course, was reflected in the country's banknotes. At that time, a banknote of 100 million billion penge appeared in circulation here. In fact, its value did not exceed 20 US cents. The banknote lasted less than a year and soon the penge was replaced by the forint, which is the national currency of Hungary to this day.
For millionaires
In 1987, a certain Terry Stewart created the International Association of Millionaires and began to develop his own money, which was supposed to become a kind of "membership" card for members of the organization. Bills of 1,000,000 US dollars are equipped with almost the full range of security levels, just like real money. Despite the fact that they do not participate in circulation and are, by and large, high-quality paper, for many collectors such banknotes are a desirable specimen for the collection, and their value only grows every year. The cost of the first bills was $35, while the last officially sold copies were already selling for $9,500.
Walt Disney created not only the fabulous world of princes and princesses, but also his own currency. Banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 50 units have been issued since 1987. Outwardly, they resemble standard American dollars, but the photos of presidents are replaced by images of famous Disney characters. Fancy money can only be used to pay for attractions at Disney theme parks, as well as on cruise ships and resorts organized by the cult cartoonist's company, in particular the private island of Castaway Cay.
concentration camp banknotes
For the prisoners of one of the concentration camps in Czechoslovakia, which was exemplary for representatives of the Red Cross and similar organizations, their own money was invented. When the inspectors came here, they were shown the created schools for children, organized cultural events for the captives, and even presented banknotes, allegedly created for internal payments. In fact, these banknotes were never used for their intended purpose and had no real value.
The largest
In 1998, the Government of the Philippines, in honor of the centenary of independence from the rule of the Spaniards, ordered the release of a limited series of banknotes, which became the largest banknotes in the world. The size of the denomination of 100,000 pesos was 33x40.7 cm. Collectors could purchase them at a price of 180,000 pesos (about 3,700 US dollars).
Notgeldy
After World War I, Germany began to print its own unofficial currency called notgeld, the so-called forced emergency money. German cities used different materials for these purposes - aluminum foil, playing cards, wood, pressed coal. The images on them were no less unusual, for example, a defecating donkey or a devil grinning. Notgelds were removed from use after 1924, when the Reichsmark appeared in the country.
Variety of coins
Unusual money can be not only paper banknotes of different sizes and denominations. Coins can be no less amazing and are no less popular.
Fragrant money
The coins from the batch called “Paradise Scent”, created in the tiny state of Palau, are distinguished from many others by a unique feature - the presence of aromas. Coconut-scented was the first to appear in the collection, and later another one appeared with the scent of “sea freshness” and an image of a surfer girl on the waves.
Cameroon butterfly
In 2011, the Government of Cameroon issued silver coins whose value lies not so much in their face value as in their unusual appearance - a colored butterfly is depicted on an engraved flower on top. Everything looks very realistic and voluminous, but the money production technology is kept behind seven locks. A total of 2500 units were made. The denomination of each is 1,000 Cameroonian francs and the sale price was $149.99.
Silver pyramid
In 2009, the Pobjoy Mint, a British mint in Tudworth, introduced a silver coin in the form of a pyramid. The release of unusual triangular money was associated with the 70th anniversary of the death of the explorer who found the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, Howard Carter. They are decorated with images from the walls of the tomb and the sun interspersed with sand, for which sand was used directly from the tomb of the pharaoh.
guitars
On the territory of Somalia in 2004, a collection of silver-coated coins was created, which is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the existence of rock and roll. The execution in the form of multi-colored guitars, which were used by famous musicians, allows us to rightfully classify them among the most unusual money in the world. Each of the mini-guitars has a denomination of $1.
Ural owl
In 2007, Mongolia began issuing money with images of animals that are endangered from the face of the Earth. The most memorable among them was the specimen with the Ural owl. For its manufacture, silver of the highest standard was used, and Swarovski crystals were used to decorate the eyes of a bird. Numismatists are willing to pay for such a coin from 1500 to 3000 dollars.
With holy water
The Palauan authorities decided not to limit themselves to issuing flavored money and presented another unusual item. The silver 1-dollar coin is decorated with the image of the Virgin Mary and a built-in mini-tank with water collected in a sacred place - a grotto near the French city of Lourdes, where in 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared to the girl Bernadette Soubirous.
Dinosaur skeleton
One of the newest and most original pieces for collectors is 25 cents from Canada, worth $29.95. One side is engraved with a portrait of Elizabeth II, and on the back is a dinosaur whose skeleton was discovered in the Canadian province of Alberta. Its “highlight” is that in the dark the skeleton of a giant appears and glows, which, according to scientists, weighed up to 4 tons.
unusual views
Today, metal coins and paper notes have become the most common forms of issuing money. But throughout the history of their formation, people now and then used very unusual types of calculations that look at least strange today. It would be quite fair to assume that for posterity, the money used today will someday look as unusual as the means of payment presented below for a modern person.
On the Pacific island of Yap (Federated States of Micronesia), Rai stones have been used as a means of payment for a long time - limestone discs up to 5 m in diameter with a hole in the middle. Depending on the size and weight of "money", their value is determined. There are no stones on the island itself, so the natives are forced to transport them by canoe from the island of Palau. The greatest value is acquired by those copies, during the transportation of which the largest number of people died.
Some peoples of West Africa up to the 20th century. They used a currency called Kissi-penny for settlements. These were twisted iron sticks 33-36 cm long, one end of which had a T-shaped appearance, and the other was made in the form of a spatula. If the wand broke, the money was forbidden to be used. But for a fee, the shaman could perform a special ceremony and put it back together again. For large purchases, small bundles were usually used. So, for a cow it was necessary to pay 100 matings of 20 sticks each.
English telly
Until the middle of the XIX century. in England, telly walnut sticks (from the Latin word (“tree”)) were used as currency, on which notches corresponding to the face value were applied across the entire width. Then the wand was split vertically so that the notches were visible on each of the parts and coincided with connecting them.This approach allowed the authorities to verify the authenticity of the means of payment during the "financial transactions" of those times.
Centinnialy
After the end of the First World War, money made of wood in the form of small boards went to Mus-Jo (Canada). During this period, any metals were in short supply, therefore, for the manufacture of currency, the authorities decided to use the most accessible material - wood, which was in abundance.
It is worth noting that this is not a complete list of the most unusual, unique and inimitable money in the world. History knows banknotes dedicated to famous football players or musicians, coins with sounds, pieces of meteorites and images of movie characters. All of them are the object of hunting for numismatists from all over the world, who thus want not only to enrich themselves, but also to enjoy their hobby.
We are used to the fact that banknotes are just banknotes, a tool to pay in cafes, shops and gas stations. Sometimes, against the backdrop of another popular vote for a new banknote design, curiosity awakens in us, and we begin to consider what is depicted on them (in a normal situation, the eye is blurred and it is not interesting to study banknotes). Something similar sometimes happens during a trip abroad: once in a new country for yourself and having received a portion of banknotes in an exchanger, sometimes you involuntarily freeze with the thought: “Wow, how unusual!” "Around the World" tells about the most interesting banknotes in the world.
The largest banknote
RM600
The fight for the right to be called the largest denomination in the world is unfolding in Asia. For 19 years since 1998, the note of 100 thousand Philippine pesos (22 by 33 cm) has been the leader in measurements. But in December 2017, Malaysia decided to celebrate its independence anniversary by printing a 600 ringgit banknote, which turned out to be even larger (22 by 37 cm). Its face value in translation into our money is about 10 thousand rubles. The world's largest banknote depicts the rulers of independent Malaysia since 1957.
The smallest banknote
50 Moroccan centimes
For some reason, this record is considered less prestigious. In any case, in the modern world, not a single country seeks to stand out by issuing the tiniest banknote. The championship has been held by Morocco since 1944 with a banknote of fifty centimes the size of a postage stamp (42 by 31 mm). Nevertheless, its creators were not too lazy and made a full-fledged design for the banknote with the image of the Moorish citadel - the Kasbah of Uday. Before the introduction of the Moroccan banknote, the smallest denomination was 10 Romanian bani, printed in 1913.
most valuable banknote
10,000 Brunei dollars
The competition “who will issue the most valuable banknote” is something like a friendly derby, like Dynamo and CSKA in football. Here, fellow rivals are Brunei and Singapore. They actively trade with each other, train soldiers together, and even have almost the same currency. In 1967, the countries entered into an agreement to establish a constant exchange rate: one Brunei dollar for one Singaporean. This rule is still in effect, so there is a certain difficulty in choosing the most valuable banknote, because a 10 thousand dollar bill exists in each of the countries. However, despite the one-to-one rule, the Brunei dollar is valued a little more on the international market.
The most beautiful banknote according to IBNS
10 Swiss francs
Every year the international banknote community (International Bank Note Society, IBNS) selects the most interesting banknote in terms of design. This is its own beauty contest among money. In April 2018, experts IBNS named the best banknote of 2017. The winning country was Switzerland with a vertically oriented 10 franc note. On one side of it there is a hand holding a conductor's baton and time zones, on the back - a Swiss watch mechanism and a railway tunnel, laid through the Alps from Switzerland to Italy.
overseas beauty
Until recently, the 10,000 franc note that was in circulation in French Polynesia looked like a real work of art: here you have ornaments, animals, and a beautiful female profile. It is not surprising that many travelers wanted to take her home from their trip. Today's 10,000 Polynesian francs, although less elegant, still look bright and attractive.
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First IBNS Contest Winner
20 Canadian dollars
The first winner of the competition IBNS in 2004 it became the 20 Canadian dollar bill. They are notable for the fact that Elizabeth II is depicted on one of its backs. The Queen of England is one of the most popular characters whose portraits are often printed on money. And many collectors strive to collect all such banknotes. Experts IBNS thought that another queen is good. On the reverse side is a totem - the spirit of the Haida tribe, the Indians who lived on the west coast of North America.
National HeroesImages on banknotes of rulers, prominent historical figures and animals that have become the national symbol of the state are a common practice. Here are just three such noteworthy banknotes. Legendary Traveler
The main "hero" of the New Zealand $5 banknote was the explorer and climber Sir Edmund Percival Hillary. The picture is impressive: the traveler looks into the distance, the wind blows his hair, his face is covered with a tan. Hillary was one of the first to summit Everest when he was only 33 years old, five years later he crossed Antarctica, descended the Ganges and went on many outstanding expeditions. In memory of an outstanding player
In 2006, the Ulster Bank issued a five-pound note in Northern Ireland dedicated to the memory of George Best, one of the best football players in the history of the country and the world. Animals instead of people
Usually on banknotes you can see historical figures, outstanding landscapes or architectural monuments and sights. Belarusian banknotes, relatively recently withdrawn from circulation, featured animals - a squirrel, a hare, beavers, wolves, lynxes, elks, bears, as well as one of the main symbols of the republic - bison. |
The first polymer banknote
10 Australian dollars
The transition to plastic banknotes is one of the recent trends in the world of banknotes. Romania, Canada, New Zealand and seven other countries have completely abandoned the use of paper banknotes. Dozens of states began to gradually introduce polymer money. And the very first such bill appeared 25 years ago in Australia. It was 10 dollars. From the point of view of design, it turned out not the most outstanding banknote. On one side was the poet Andrew Patterson, on the other, the poet Mary Gilmour. Both authors are beloved by Australians, but not well known outside the continent.
Banknote with the highest denomination
100 billion Zimbabwean dollars
The note with the largest number of zeros is the result of the 2008 hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. The country's government, hoping to somehow cope with the depreciation of the local dollar, issued a series of agro-cheques - banknotes with a huge denomination, which, as planned, could only be used by farmers. But in the end, banknotes went all over the country without restrictions. The largest of the agro-cheques had a face value of $100 billion. With this money you could buy one can of beer.
"Unfinished" banknote
5000 brazilian cruzados
To make a beautiful banknote, it is not at all necessary to draw it to the end, the Central Bank of Brazil proved in 1988. The 5,000 cruzado banknote only has the silhouettes of two Indian women. Next to the unfinished drawing stands the most famous Brazilian artist, Candido Portinari, who is both the character of the image on the banknote and its creator.
Dance of death on a banknote
1000 Swiss francs 1954–1974
Switzerland has given the world many interesting banknotes, but the 1954 banknote series stands apart. Its creators decided to take religious and mythical subjects popular in Europe as a basis. On the banknote of 1000 francs, the Swiss placed the macabra, or dance of death, the motive of which is the inevitability of the end of human life.
A 500-franc note from the same series is much more optimistic: it depicts a fountain of youth, passing through which the old became young men. Saint Martin was painted on 100 francs as a knight - the son of a Roman tribune, who dreamed of becoming a monk, but, obeying the will of his father, chose the career of a military leader.
Polynesian myths on banknote
20 Cook Islands dollars
In Polynesia, banknotes are not only money, but also a reminder of the cultural heritage. Cook Islands dollars issued in 1987 show a nude girl riding a shark holding a coconut. The name of this heroine is Ina. According to the Polynesians, she is the beloved of the ocean god Tinirau. The beauty ended up on a shark after an unsuccessful attempt to swim to the island where her fiancé lived. The predatory fish agreed to help her. But Ina turned out to be an ungrateful girl. On the way, she drank the milk of one of the coconuts taken along the way, and then relieved herself right on the shark. The fish was offended and asked not to do this again. According to the islanders, it was because of this act of Ina that shark meat became tasteless. After some time, the bride of Tinirau became thirsty again and tried to open the second coconut by breaking it on the head of a fish. After that, in some of the sharks, the head changed shape, becoming like a hammer. The good fish did not forgive Ina for the second offense and threw her into the ocean. True, everything ended well for the girl: she was saved by the shark king Tekea, and with his help she got to her lover. And many years later, also on the banknotes of the Cook Islands.
Incredible Facts
However, throughout the history of the currency, rather strange forms of payment have appeared.
It could be giant heavy stones, geometric shapes, metal sticks and many other non-standard materials.
Fancy Coins: Rai Stones
In Micronesia on Yap Island, Rai stones are legal tender. These coins represent large limestone discs with a diameter of 1.5 - 6 meters with a hole in the middle. The cost of such a stone depends on the size, weight, and how many people died to move such a stone.
Coins of Africa: Kissi money
In some parts of West Africa, until the 20th century, twisted iron sticks 33-36 cm long in the form of the letter "T" on one end and with the shape of a spatula on the other. They were called Kissi money or Kissi pennies and were often used during burial ceremonies. Often they were used in bundles. So, for example, a cow cost 100 bundles of 20 twigs.
The biggest coin
Canadian 1 million canadian dollar coin, which weighs 100 kg and is 99.9 percent pure gold, was considered the largest coin in the world until 2011.
At the end of October 2011, Australia introduced the largest gold coin in the world. Huge coin issued by the Perth Mint weighs more than a ton of pure gold. Its thickness is 12 cm and its diameter is 80 cm.
The smallest coin
Historically, the smallest coin is the Tara Vijayanagara silver quarter in India, diameter - 4 mm which weighs only 1.7 grams.
The smallest commemorative coin
And in 2012 in the UK created the smallest diamond coin with the image of Queen Elizabeth II in honor of the diamond jubilee. Its diameter is only 750 nanometers (1 nanometer is one billionth of a meter)
Unusual geometric money of Somalia
These so-called coins are three dimensional geometric shapes cone (water), pyramid (fire), sphere (earth), cylinder (wood), and cube (metal).
Somalia is also famous for other unusual coins in the shape of cars, guitars and motorcycles.
Rare fiber coins
Yuan Makchukuo was the official coin in Japan in the occupied territory of Manchuria. In 1944-45, due to the war, the stocks of metal were sharply reduced and coins of 1 and 5 fen were made from red and brown cardboard-like material.
wooden money
This money was in use in the city of Moose-Jo in Canada. They were issued in the post-World War I period, when metal was such a rarity that cities issued currency from the most readily available material, including wood planks.
Rare talking coin
The Mongolian 500 tugrik coin, which features US President John F. Kennedy on one side, has a small button that, when pressed, you can hear the historical phrase of the president: "I'm proud to be a Berliner!"
Silver coin with holy water
One of the smallest countries in the world, the island nation of Palau, in 2007, issued an unusual coin - a silver dollar depicting the Virgin Mary with a tiny vial containing holy water from a holy place in Lourdes, France.
space money
This currency is not used on Earth, but was designed for space tourists. It was created by scientists from National Space Center And University of Leicester and was named Quid (from the English Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination - a quasi-universal intergalactic denomination). These round coins, made of heavy-duty plastic with images of the planets of the solar system, are capable of withstanding space load and have a high degree of protection.
I don't even remember what such a huge number is called. But this is not fiction, but the real banknote of the now non-existent state of Yugoslavia. Hyperinflation hit Yugoslavia in 1989, until reforms were introduced in 1994. This banknote was printed in 1988. Unfortunately, I do not know what exactly could be bought for that kind of money. A loaf of bread?
Banknote from the concentration camp
This money was created by the Nazis for the Jews in the concentration camp from Czechoslovakia. This camp served as a model for the Red Cross and other organizations that came to check on the living conditions of the people living here.
The Nazis created schools for children in this camp, held cultural and educational events for prisoners, and even issued banknotes for internal circulation.
In fact, about 30 thousand people died in this camp, and about 90 thousand of the inhabitants of the "paradise" concentration camp were sent to other places, even more terrible.
The notes themselves were presented to the Red Cross, but were never actually used and had no value.
One hundred trillion dollars (Zimbabwe)
Another huge denomination note used in Zimbabwe in 2009. There, as you know, economic anarchy reigns, and paper money is even handed over to waste paper. Sometimes the weight of paper money, for which you can buy a loaf of bread, exceeds the weight of the loaf itself.
One hundred million billion pengo (Hungary)
Yes, in this country the maximum hyperinflation of all possible was recorded. This happened in 1946, so this is not a consequence of modern economic turmoil. So, one hundred million billion is 100,000,000,000,000,000,000. It is clear that the zeros did not fit on the bill, so they were not printed, prescribing numbers in words. In July 1946, the pengo was replaced by the forint, the currency that is still the official currency of Hungary.
The oldest banknote - 1380
This denomination is the most ancient of all preserved. It was issued in 1380, although paper money was used in China as early as 800 AD.
Notgeld (Germany)
This money is something like coupons that were widely used in Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR. By the way, Notgeld can be considered the most unusual of all the "emergency" currencies issued as a replacement for ordinary money. As you can see, the design of the money is not just unusual, but very unusual. I wonder how such a thing was admitted to circulation?
Banknote with Einstein
In 1952, Israeli Prime Minister Ben-Gurion proposed using the face of Albert Einstein as a design detail for a new Israeli banknote, the 5-unit banknote, Lirot. This particular banknote was issued in 1968.
It would seem that the times of beads and mirrors as banknotes are long gone, but is it really so?
In the paradise of the Pacific Ocean, on the island of Yap in Micronesia, locals use huge stone disks with a hole in the middle as money. Their diameter ranges from 1.5-6 m. The value of such a banknote is determined by its size, as well as by how many people suffered during the transportation of the stone.
The fact is that there are no such stones on their native island, so local residents have to canoe to the neighboring island of Palau, where there are still a lot of stone disks, and deliver “money” home.
Inhabitants Palau watch this process with irony, rejoicing that they have their own currency and do not have to work so hard to get it.
Disney dollars
These are the favorite banknotes of all children. They are only used in Disney theme parks, resorts and cruise ships. The value of the Disney dollar, created back in 1987, is equated to the value of the US dollar.
Coins of Africa: Kissi money
Some peoples of West Africa until the twentieth century used twisted iron sticks 33-36 cm long. They were called kissi-penny and were often used during funeral ceremonies.
Obviously, such money was not very valuable, because it was often used in whole matings. A cow, for example, cost 100 bundles of 20 twigs .
The largest coin in the world
Until 2011, the largest coin in the world was a Canadian coin worth 1 million Canadian dollars. It weighs 100 kg and is 99.9% pure gold.
But in October 2011, the Australians surpassed the Canadians. A giant Australian coin issued by the Partha Mint weighs over a ton. The thickness of the golden beauty is 12 cm, the diameter reaches 80 cm.
The smallest coin in the world
Silver quarter Tara Vijayanagara in India is the smallest coin on Earth. The tiny coin is 4mm in diameter and weighs only 1.7g.
The amazing money of Somalia
In Somalia, instead of coins, they use these geometric figures of a cone (water), a ball (earth), a pyramid (fire), a cylinder (wood) and a cube (metal).
This country is famous for other unusual coins in the form of cars, guitars and motorcycles.
Rare fiber coins
Due to the war in 1944-1945, metal reserves rapidly decreased in Japan. Therefore, some coins were made from red and brown cardboard-like material.
In the city of Moose Jo in Canada, after the First World War, they used ... wooden money. At that time, metal was such a rarity that money was issued in the cities from the most accessible materials, including wooden planks.
The Mongolian 500 tugrik coin depicting US President John F. Kennedy has a small button. By clicking on it, you can hear the historical phrase of the President: « I'm proud to be a Berliner! »
In one of the smallest countries in the world - the state of Palau in 2007, an unusual coin was issued. This is a silver dollar depicting the Virgin Mary holding a small vial of holy water from a holy site in Lourdes, France.
These round coins made of heavy-duty plastic depict the planets of the solar system. Such strange money was made at the National Space Center and the University of Leicester specifically for space tourists.
