We couldn’t let Halloween go by without sharing an article we recently read on a British website, Leftover Currency. They compiled a list of banknotes from around the world with artwork ranging from spooky to downright horrifying.
Here’s their take on a few of the Ten Scariest Banknotes of All Time.
Tesla’s Spooky Pigeon
The Serbian 100-dinar banknote commemorates the famous inventor’s love of pigeons. Rather than going generic, the design depicts Tesla’s favorite pigeon, which he said flew into his window one night to tell him it was dying. According to Tesla, the bird’s eyes were shining with a light more intense than any lamps produced in his laboratory.
A Double Dose of Ghosts
This 200-kronur note from Denmark’s Faroe Islands shows a ghost moth, a species believed to be inhabited by the souls of the dead on one side and an island peak on the other that’s supposedly haunted by a young girl snatched from her mother’s arms by an eagle and carried there to die.
Fear the Reaper
Would you want a thousand-dollar bill that foretold your death? The Swiss evidently thought so when they issued a 1000-franc note in the 1970s that showed a grisly scene of the Grim Reaper delivering the news to an old man, a young woman, and a child on its reverse. The notes were withdrawn from circulation but are still redeemable at face value ($1,010 US) if you have one that’s creeping you out.
A Plague on Your Money
When inflation was rampant in Germany’s Weimar Republic, some local governments began issuing their own currency that was essentially a voucher to replace the worthless mark. The Bavarian town of Oberammergau, site of the famous Oberammergau Passion plays in production since 1634 to celebrate the town’s deliverance from the bubonic plague, issued a 75-pfenning note showing a scythe-wielding skeleton astride the village. A grim reminder to always wash your hands after handling money.
Other Scary Notes
Also on the Top Ten list are a Spanish note depicting the burial of a count by two dead saints, an Austrian actor who killed himself after being bitten by a wild dog, and Chinese Hell Money, non-tender notes to give to the dead so they can bribe Yama, the King of Hell for a get-out-of Hell pass. And for triskaidekaphobes, US money makes the list for all its references to the original 13 colonies.
For the complete list, along with pictures of the creepy cash, here’s a link to the Leftover Money article.
Collecting coins and paper money is a great way to learn about places, cultures and history around the world. The Great American Coin Company® offers a wide selection of collectible U.S. coins and paper currency as well as currency from around the world. We keep adding unique collectibles as they become available, so be sure to visit us frequently. And while you’re there, be sure to visit our blog for interesting and timely articles about currency and precious metals.
