List of Unique and Weird Banknotes

Every county in the world is having its own Monetary system. The below-listed banknotes are handpicked because of their special features, some are weird, some are unique and scarce.

World’s Highest Denominations

Zimbabwe’s One Hundred Trillion Dollars

In 2009 when the inflation rate is at its peak, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe released the higest denomination banknote ever issued by any country in the world, the One Hundred Trillion Dollar note worth around USD 300. By April 2019, when their economy is collapsed and a new monetary system formed. As a result, Trillion Dollar notes are withdrawn from the circulation.

100 Million Billion Hungarian Pengo

In 1946 when the Hungarian Pengo suffered one of the worst cases of hyperinflation, the Hungarian Bank printed the 1 Millard (one sextillion pengo) but never released for circulation. The 100 Million Billion Pengo was the highest denomination banknote ever issued to circulation by the Hungarian bank, and it was worth approximately 20 US cents. By July 1946, the Hungarian Pengo replaced with Forint – the current monetary system.

The 500,000,000,000 Dinara Yugoslavia

During the hyperinflation time, the Bank of Yugoslavia issued many high denomination banknotes the 500,000,000,000 Dinara was released to circulation in 1993. In 1994 the economy reformed, and these high denomination banknotes are pulled back from circulation. Today the Yugoslavian high denomination banknotes are highly collectible.

World’s Largest Banknote

In 1998 the Republic of the Philippines released the 100,000 Peso Commemorative banknote in celebration of the centennial of the Philippine Declaration of Independence. The banknote is almost as big as a legal-sized bond paper, 356mm width, and 216mm. The “Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas” demonetized the 100,000 Peso banknote as of August 1, 2019 and it’s still a collector’s item. There were only 1,000 of them are printed, and the 1998 Philippines 100,000 Peso still holds Guinness World Record for the largest banknote ever issued.

World’s Oldest Banknote

It is believed that the Chinese are the first who started to use banknotes as early as in AD 800’s and discontinued in the 15th Century. The one Kwan (or guan) is known as the world’s oldest surviving banknote. This banknote first printed during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398). There are reports some older banknotes (from 12th Century and earlier) are also excavated from China but still unclear about the existence of them.

The Burmese Extraordinary denomination banknotes

The Burmese dictator, U Ne Win was fascinated with numerology, and he issued some extraordinary denominations of Burmese Kytas. In November 1985, U Ni Win recalled all the 50 & 100 Kyat notes and issued the unusual denominations of 25, 35, and 75 kyats – 75 Kyats is issued for his 75 birthday!

After two years, in 1987, General Win ordered to issue 15, 45 & 90 Kayts – and demonetized the 25, 35, and 75 kyats. On 18 September 1988, the General Win’s Era came to an end with a military coup led by General Saw Maung and demonetized all the old currencies in circulation. The new government issued the regular denominations with the new country name Myanmar.

High valued Single Banknotes

Hundred Thousand American Dollars Gold Certificate

US$100,000 considered as one of the largest valued notes ever printed. The $100,000 gold certificates are issued only for three weeks from December 1934 and January 1935. These high valued banknotes are only used for official transactions between Federal Reserve Banks.

Ten Thousand American Dollars Federal Reserve Note

The US$10,000 considered as one of the largest valued notes ever printed after the 1943 100,000 gold certificate. The first US$10,000 bill issued in 1918 (Green Seal version), and its the rarest of the $10,000 banknotes. The green seal version are issued in 1928 & 1943 ( Series 1928, 1934, 1934A & 1934B). All the three issues are having the portrait of Salmon P. Chase, who served as the Secretary of the Treasury to President Abraham Lincoln. In 1969 the US Federal Reserve officially discontinued the $10,000 but still considered as a legal tender even though only 35o of them are known to exist, and most of them are in museums or with few lucky collectors.

Ten Thousand Singapore Dollars (SGD)

The 10,000 SGD holds the world record for the largest value of a single banknote in modern days. In 2014 Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) stopped printing the $10,000 notes, but still the 10,000 SGD is accepted as a legal tender in the country.

10,000 Brunei Dollars (BD)

Since the 10,000 stopped printing in 2004, the Brunei $10,000 holds the title of the world’s most valuable banknote in circulation. Brunei is a small island country and rich with extensive petroleum and natural gas reserves and as per Forbes, it is the 5th richest country in the world. The 10,000 Ringgit issued in 1989 in the same year when the country’s official name changed to Negara Brunei Darussalam (In the Malay Language, it stands for the State of Brunei, Abode of Peace).

Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) Holed Banknotes

In 1997 after the end of Joseph Mobutu’s dictatorship, the new government of Zaire decided to use old currency which was a portrait of the old leader Joseph Mobutu by punching his face off from all the banknotes! These holed banknotes were in circulation and gradually pulled from circulation when the new banknotes are introduced in late 1997.

Courtesy- The pictures are taken from different sources

Unique Banknotes, strange Banknotes, Weird Banknotes, 100 Million Billion Pengo, Largest Banknote, World’s Highest Denominations, 500,000,000,000 Dinara Yugoslavia, 100,000 Dollar, 1943 100,000 gold certificate, 10,000 American Dollar,10000 Singapore Dollars, Brunei10000 Dollars, Zaire Holed Banknotes, World’s Oldest Banknote, one Kwan, rare currency, extraordinary notes, One Hundred Trillion Dollar note,100,000 Peso, Canadian banknote dealer, Canadian Coin dealer, Online banknote sales, Coin dealer in Edmonton, banknote dealer in Edmonton, buy banknotes online, buy old currency, currency shop Edmonton