The Stories Behind Some of the Most Interesting Currencies in the World | Bob Klein of Medici Capital

For thousands of years, human civilizations assigned value to various objects that would be used for barter and trade. Currency in the form of gold was introduced into history sometime around 3000 B.C. and was used by ancient people in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, there are many types of currency used around the world. If you have never been outside of your own country, you have never been able to witness the beauty of another country’s currency. 

Dollar-Cook Islands

Cook Island residents are generally considered to be citizens of New Zealand. As such the people commonly use the New Zealand dollar. However, the Cook Islanders also have a local currency featuring three-dollar bills and two-dollar coins. The pink three-dollar bill boasts a church and parishioners on one side. The reverse side depicts the tropical location via a blue lorikeet, a conch shell, cultural dancers and an array of tropical fish. The green/blue three-dollar bill depicts the legend of Ina who reportedly attempted to ride a shark through the water to visit her beloved. However, the shark attacked and consumed her. The other side of the bill displays a typical boat and local artifacts.

Pacific Franc-Tahiti

Although part of the French Republic, the islands created the Pacific Franc. The currency is also used in New Caledonia and on the Futuna and Wallis Islands. The bills come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 5,000 or 10,000 Francs. Images on one side of the bills depict the islands in which they are used. The other side displays a colorful array of bird-of-paradise, tropical fish, turtles and local flowers in addition to items representative of Polynesian culture. The islands use seven different coins that feature the French Republic on the front and French Polynesia or New Caledonia on the reverse side.

Rand-South Africa

Once South Africa became a republic in 1961, the region adopted its own currency. Each Rand bill depicts one of the “big five” wild animals synonymous with the nation. The bills may feature highly detailed images of an elephant, leopard, lion, rhino or water buffalo on the front. The reverse side commemorates Nelson Mandela with his image. The coins also represent the picturesque landscape of the region. Images include a number of different animals and flowers. Every year, the South African Mint changes the text on the coins in order to represent each of the area's 11 languages.