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Highest Denomination
The world's highest denomination note is Hungary 100 Million B-Pengo (American 100 Quintillion Pengo)*,
issued in 1946. That's 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 Pengo. It was worth about
U.S. $0.20 in 1946.
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Hungary also printed a 1 Milliard B-Pengo (Amerian 1 Sextillion Pengo)*, 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Pengo, note in 1946. Overtaken by inflation, it was never in circulation.
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* The European number system differs from the American system for denominations
above one million:
European 1 milliard = American 1 billion (1,000,000,000), and
European 1 billion = American 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000).
Thus a B-Pengo or 1 Billion Pengo is really American 1 Trillion Pengo.
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Highest Denomination Polymer Banknote
Romania 1 Million (1,000,000) Lei, issued in 2003, is the world's highest denomination
polymer plastic banknote. It's no longer legal tender. Four zeros were dropped
in the 2005 currency reform.
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Lowest Denomination
The lowest fractional note is Fiji 1 penny, issued in 1942. The old penny,
being 1/240 of a pound, is a lower denomination than other fractional notes
based on 1/100th of a basic monetary unit.
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No Denomination
The notes with no denomination - Tatarstan issued a series of currency
checks without any denomination printed.
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Oldest
China was the first country to use paper money. Ancient paper money can be traced
back to the Pai-Lu P'i-pi (white deer-skin money) of Han Dynasty (140 BC) and the
Fei-Chien (flying money) of Tang Dynasty.
Shown here is the oldest surviving Tang Dynasty 30 Kuan, 860-874.
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Largest Size
To commemorate the Centennial of Independence from more than 300 years of
Spanish colonial rule in 1998, the government of the Philippines wanted to do
something very special. It issued the world's largest banknote 355.6 mm by 215.9 mm (14 x 8 1/2 inches), beating the
previous record: China Ming Dynasty 1 Kuan 220 mm x 330mm (about 8 1/2 x 13 inches).
The 100,000 Piso note, measuring 355.6 mm by 215.9 mm (14 x 8 1/2 inches), is accredited by the Guinness World Records
as the world's largest legal tender note in terms of size. The front depicts
the "Cry of Pugadlawin", when about 1,000 Filipino patriots led by Andres
Bonifacio gathered in Pugadlawin, on August 23, 1896. They tore up their
Spanish-issued residence certificates and yelled "Long live the Philippines",
signalling the start of a revolt against Spain. The back features General Emilio Aguinaldo displaying the Philippine
flag to the crowd below and proclaiming independence from Spain from the balcony of his house in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
Only 1,000 of these notes were issued. It has a catalog value of
$3500.
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Smallest Size
In times of war, coins are often in short supply. Gold and silver coins are
hoarded for their intrinsic values. Other metals are appropriated for war efforts.
Many governments resort to printing small denomination banknotes as temporary
substitutes. The following are some of the countries which had issued postage size banknotes: Ivory Coast,
Macao, Monaco, Morocco, New Caledonia, Romania, Russia, Spain and United States. Morocco 50 Centimes 1944 emergency
issue, measuring only 41mm x 32mm (about 1 5/8 x 1 1/4 inches), is the world's smallest banknote.
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Most Zeros
The note with the most zeros is Zimbabwe 100 trillion
(100,000,000,000,000) dollars 2008 (issued 2009). The note has 14 zeros printed on both
the front and the back.
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Perfect Forgery
The perfect forgeries, code named Operation Bernhard - Bank of England Pound
notes produced by prisoners of war in a German Concentration camp. Circulated
along with genuine notes.
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Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II is the second longest reigning head of state after King
Rama IX of Thailand. She has been Queen since 1952. Her pictures appear on
banknotes of 34 countries. See Queen Elizabeth II Banknote
Collection
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Japanese Invasion Money
The Japanese Government issued bank notes, known as Japanese Invasion Money
(JIM), during WWII in the following five occupied territories: Burma, Malaya,
Netherlands Indies, Oceania and Philippines.
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First "United States" Banknotes
The United States government did not print banknotes until 1861.
However, almost immediately after adoption of the Constitution in 1789,
Congress chartered the first Bank of the United States and authorized it to
issue paper bank notes to eliminate confusion and simplify trade. The bank thus
served as the quasi central bank of the United States.
This $50 note was issued in 1801, exactly midway in the bank's twenty-year
charter.
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U. S. Highest Denomination
The highest denomination issued by the United States for public circulation
is $10,000. The highest denomination currently in circulation is $100.
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The highest denomination ever printed by the United States is the $100,000
Gold Certificate. They were restricted only for transactions between the Federal
Reserve and the Treasury Department.
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U. S. Lowest Denomination
The lowest denomination ever issued by the United States is
the 3 Cents Treasury Note. Known as the Fractional Currency, they were used
during the Civil War when coins were in short supply.
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Highest Price Paid
A world record of $2,255,000 was paid in a private transaction for a $1,000
1890 "Grand Watermelon" note in December 2006. It's the world's most expensive
banknote.
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Motto "IN GOD WE TRUST"
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was declared the national motto of the United States
by the 84th U. S. Congress and was first used on paper money in 1957, when it
appeared on the One Dollar Silver Certificates.
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A Buck
How "buck" became slang for U. S. dollar? The term originated from the Old West
when buckskin was a common medium of exchange with Indians. Later as currency
replaced the barter system, people still refer to a dollar as a buck
(short for buckskin).
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Monetary Unions
The five current monetary authorities which issue common notes for member countries
are:
 Central African States - Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
East Caribbean States - Antigua, Anguilla, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
French Pacific Territories - French Polynesia, New
Caledonia, and Wallis & Futuna Islands.
West African States - Benin, Burkina Faso,
Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
European Monetary Union
- Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Many other countries also use Euro or pegged their currencies to Euro. See
Who Use Euro?
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More Trivia
My new blog,
Some Interesting Facts About Paper Money, offers timely articles and
commentaries on paper money related topics.
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