30 Strange Currencies Around the World

The common impression is that currencies come only in the form of the paper money in your wallet or coins in your pocket. Or that gold, copper or silver once functioned as primitive form of currencies.

From today's modern society, that's true.

But from history's perspective, we realize currencies took in many forms...including the most bizarre ones.

Zimbabwe Currency




German Crisis Money Around 1921






Chinese Kuan note is the world’s oldest known banknote, from around 1380


Bank notes from Belarus


Katanga crosses used in Zaire, Africa


Wooden bills of Germany


Rai Stone, On the island of Yap in the Solomon Islands


Zambia coins in honour of the 2000 Sydney Olympics


The world's largest note


The death penalty dollar


Canadian Tire money


Bank of Cthulhu


Space Quid, currency to be used in space
















The African nation of Zaire