What is on the world’s banknotes? A short guide to money design
Quick answer: Banknotes usually show national leaders, writers, scientists, landmarks or wildlife, and include security features such as watermarks, holograms and colour-changing ink. The euro is unusual: its notes show imaginary bridges and windows.
Who appears on money
Common choices:
- Founders and kings: many Arab currencies show monarchs or national symbols
- Scientists and writers: Japan’s yen shows scientists and authors
- Landmarks: Egypt’s pound shows mosques and pharaonic monuments
- Nature: some African and Pacific notes show wildlife
Security features
Modern notes use watermarks, raised print, holograms, security threads and ink that changes colour when tilted. Polymer (plastic) notes, first used in Australia in 1988, last longer and are harder to fake.
A short history of paper money
Paper money first appeared in China, where merchants used deposit notes in the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty issued official notes around the 11th century. Europe followed much later: Sweden’s Stockholms Banco issued some of the first European banknotes in 1661.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 7th–11th century | Paper money develops in China |
| 1661 | First European banknotes in Sweden |
| 1694 | Bank of England founded |
| 1988 | Australia introduces polymer banknotes |
| 2002 | Euro notes enter circulation |
What banknotes show
Notes usually show national heroes, landmarks, animals or achievements. Security features such as watermarks, holograms and colour-changing ink make them hard to copy.
Who appears on banknotes
Banknotes often honour national figures, landmarks or achievements. Many Arab banknotes show historic sites: Egyptian notes feature mosques and pharaonic monuments, Jordanian notes show kings and Petra, and Saudi notes show the Kaaba and other landmarks.
Currencies of the Arab world
Some currencies quizzes ask about:
| Country | Currency |
|---|---|
| Egypt | Egyptian pound |
| Jordan | Jordanian dinar |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi riyal |
| UAE | UAE dirham |
| Morocco | Moroccan dirham |
| Kuwait | Kuwaiti dinar |
| Iraq | Iraqi dinar |
The most valuable currency unit
The Kuwaiti dinar is often listed as the highest-valued currency unit in the world, worth more than three US dollars.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented paper money?
China, during the Tang and Song dynasties, more than 1,000 years ago.
Why do euro notes show bridges?
To avoid favouring any one member country, they show imaginary architecture from different eras.
Where was paper money invented?
China.
Which country first used plastic banknotes?
Australia, in 1988.
Which currency unit has the highest value?
The Kuwaiti dinar is often listed as the highest-valued.
What is the currency of Morocco?
The Moroccan dirham.