Currency

The Chinese were making paper money back in the 900s AD before Europe knew what paper was, but some exchange commodity had to back it. Paper currency, as we know it today, has not been around for very long (120-130 years in America). Before that, bank notes, federal notes, or any kind of guaranteed note was used for commerce. The currencies of many countries are represented on these pages, some of which are masterpieces of artistic design.

AUSTRALIA, RESERVE BANK, 10 DOLLARS, 1988 BANCO CENTRAL DE CHILE, 1000 PESOS, 2009 BANCO CENTRAL DEL URUGUAY, 100 PESOS URUGUAYOS, 2011
BANCO CENTRAL DEL URUGUAY, 20 PESOS URUGUAYOS, 2008 BANCO CENTRAL DEL URUGUAY, N$ 200 PESOS, 1986 BANCO NACIONOL DA GUINE-BISSAU, 5000 PESOS, 1984
BANK OF CANADA (BANQUE DU CANADA) 10 DOLLARS, 1937 BANQUE CENTRALE DE TUNISIE, UN DINAR, 1965 CENTRAL BANK OF SOLOMON ISLANDS, 2 DOLLARS, 2011
ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ, 100 KORUN 1931 ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ, 1000 KORUN, 1934 COOK ISLANDS, INA AND SHARK, 10 DOLLARS, 1987
COOK ISLANDS, INA AND SHARK, 3 DOLLARS, 1987 COSTA RICA, 1 COLÓN, 1917 (1963 ANNIVERSARY ISSUE) EL BANCO DE LA REPUBLICA, UN PESO ORO, 1942
FINLAND, 1000 MARKKAA, BY GOTTLIEB SAARINEN, 1945 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SCRANTON, 20 DOLLARS, 1902 FRANCE, BANQUE DE FRANCE, 100 FRANCS, 1932
FRENCH WEST AFRICA (AFRIQUE OCCIDENTALE FRANҪAISE), 1 FRANC, 1944 GERMANY, 100 REICHSMARK NOTE, 1935 GERMANY, 5 DEUTSCHE MARK, 1948
GERMANY, MÜNSTER, 2 MARK NOTGELD, 1921 ITALIA BIGLIETTO DI STATO, 10 LIRE, 1944 ITALY, 2 LIRE MONETA PATRIOTTICA, 1848
MORRIS COUNTY BANK, MORRISTOWN, NJ, 10 DOLLARS, 1857 REICHSBANKNOTE ZWANZIG MARK, 1915 REPUBLIC OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1000 KORUN, 1932
REPÚBLICA PORTUGUESA, ANGOLA, 50 CENTAVOS, 1921 RÉPUBLIQUE POPULAIRE DU CONGO, 500 FRANCS, 1990 RESERVE BANK OF VANAUTU, 2000 VATU, 2014