What can we learn from this work of art?
Image photo by Meredith Mullins

Cultural Heritage and Traditions Revealed

Countries reveal their cultural heritage and traditions through art, dress, storytelling, history, heroes, architecture, monuments, museums, language, music, products, and leaders.

They are also proud to present their natural treasures such as flora, fauna, and other gifts of nature.

Natural and human-made treasures
Image photo by Meredith Mullins

What do these two images have in common?

Both of the images are from a country’s currency (paper money). The colorful coffee harvest scene appears on a five-colon bill (now out of circulation) from Costa Rica.

The drawing of the Great Wall of China appears on the one-yuan Chinese note. (China, by the way, was the first country to use paper currency, back in the Tang Dynasty.)

This banknote from Costa Rica (no longer in circulation) shows the harvesting of coffee,
one of Costa Rica’s primary exports.
Image photo by Meredith Mullins

Of course we need money to travel to distant lands. But why not look at paper money also as a source of cultural information . . . and inspiration?

Well, perhaps not if you’re in the U.S., as American dollars are some of the most institutional and colorless paper money in circulation today (although the selected green color is practical, as it reduces fading and decoloration of the currency).

However, the world’s money tells another story.

The lek, lev, lempira, kina, kuna, tala, hryvnia, dong, ngultrum, tenge, rufiyaa, rial, nakfa, birr, shekel, rupee, pula, dram, kwanza, rand, dinar, som, kip, tugrik, shilling, pound, and euro open a surprising window into a country’s view of its treasures and how a country would like to present itself to the rest of the world.

Cultures reveal themselves in their design of paper money.
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Natural Riches

Many countries display their natural treasures, from wildlife to agricultural exports.

From Zambia: Wildlife, agriculture, and a strong statement on freedom
Photo by Meredith Mullins

The Big Five make frequent appearances (rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalos), as well as orangutans, antelope, tigers, iguanas, alligators, penguins, and exotic birds.

The Ugandan antelope is honored.
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Indigenous plants, flowers, and trees also grace currency designs, as do exports such as coffee and chocolate.

Portion of the beautifully designed Costa Rica 5000-colon note
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Sites of Interest

Historical and contemporary sites of interest are common themes. These visuals serve as a reminder of places worth visiting in a particular country. Paper money becomes an effective extension of travel brochures and tourist information.

The ancient site of Ephesus in Turkey shown on the Turkish lira
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Movers and Shakers

Most paper money features some presence of the heroes, leaders, or celebrated personalities of the country.

We meet Nelson Mandela on South African currency, Mahatma Ghandi on Indian notes, Mustafa Kamal Atatürk on Turkish bills, Ghenghis Kahn on Mongolian notes, Mao Zedong on The People’s Republic of China bills, the founding fathers on American currency, Ho Chi Minh on Vietnamese bills, and Ramesses II on Egyptian notes.

A smiling Nelson Mandela gives us hope on the South African rand.
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Perhaps the most frequently appearing leader is Queen Elizabeth II, having appeared on the currency of 33 countries. Several different portraits are used, but in most cases, she is forever young.

Queen Elizabeth II: Forever young
Photo by Meredith Mullins

A variety of other notables are also featured, from Winston Churchill (British pound) to Greta Garbo (Swedish krona) to Ché Guevara (Cuban peso) to Marie Curie and Frédéric Chopin (Polish zloty).

Artist Frida Kahlo on the Mexican peso
Photo by Stephen Mehay

Artists and musicians are frequently honored. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera appear on Mexican notes, Edvard Munch is on a Norwegian bill, the work of sculptor Alberto Giacometti appears on a Swiss note, singer Cesária Évora is featured on a Cape Verde bill, and the music of Jacobus Gallus is represented on a 200-tolar Slovenian bill (now out of circulation).

Portion of the Slovenian tolar (now out of circulation) showing the music of Jacobus Gallus
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Writers are prominent also, with Gabriel Garcia Márquez on a Colombian peso, Jane Austen on a British pound note, and Karen Blixen on a Danish krone.

The choice of who appears on the currency is, in itself, a fascinating indicator of how a country views its cultural heritage and traditions—showing political power; a history of dictatorship, monarchy or freedom; or artistic depth.

Iceland offers a range of personalities on the krona.
© Johan10/iStock

Cultural Stories

Currencies often tell memorable stories that include signs and symbols of cultural heritage.

The paper money from the Maldives shows fishing and coconuts, which are the traditional ways the islanders have earned a living. The note also shows cowrie shells, which were the first form of currency on the islands.

The Maldives rufiyaa shows the history of the islands and the origin of the use of currency.
© Siempreverde22/iStock

The one hundred trillion dollar note (100,000,000,000,000) of Zimbabwe (the highest existing denomination in the world) is a clue that the currency devaluation in that country is a significant problem.

The Comoros islands off the coast of Africa are a place of turbulent politics, rebellions, and coups, but the currency depicts a peaceful paradise. A hopeful prediction for the future?

The banknotes of Eritrea reflect a focus on youth and education, important elements for the progress of the country.

Part of an Eritrean banknote, showing the value of education
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Bhutan’s bills incorporate the government crest, with dragons, mythical birds, and auspicious signs—an interweaving of the practical and the spiritual.

The beauty of Bhutanese paper money design
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Counterfeit Protection Measures

The design, style, color, and artistry of each country’s bills are unique to the government and culture of the country.

Each country also has creative ways of addressing counterfeit protection issues.

The elusive Eritrean camel
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Bermuda has a transparent butterfly that is only visible when closely inspected. Eritrea has an elusive camel. Britain has a series of shining silver holograms. And many countries have specially made interwoven threads, as well as a secret formula of plastic and/or linen and cotton cloth.

Anti-counterfeit measures on the British pound: a variety of holograms
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Traveling the World

A study of a country’s currency can provide solid clues to its cultural heritage and traditions, bringing the world closer together and promoting understanding among us.

The next time you are traveling in a new country, take an “Oh, I see” moment to discover the details of the paper money. It’s an inventive way to begin to get to know a culture.

Fiji fauna and flora
Photo by Meredith Mullins

Test Your World Money Skills

As an added world culture brain teaser, match the money name with the country (without the aid of Google). (Answers are in tiny print below.)

1. Lek
2. Tenge
3. Tugrik
4. Nakfa
5. Birr
6. Kwanza
7. Ngultrum
8. Lempira
9. Dong
10. Dram

A. Bhutan
B. Eritrea
C. Honduras
D. Angola
E. Vietnam
F. Ethiopia
G. Armenia
H. Mongolia
I.  Albania
J. Kazakhstan

Thank you to Robert’s World Money and world travelers Rick McGarrity, Helen Ogden, Stephen Mehay, and Stephanie Herrick.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

1-I  2-J  3-H  4-B  5-F  6-D  7-A  8-C  9-E  10-G