Colourful World Currency Banknotes

Here is a list of colourful world currency notes, which many rich tourists pick up on their foreign business tours or vacations to exotic places.


Switzerland (Francs)

The currency in Switzerland is known as the Swiss franc with the symbol CHF or SFr. It is the official currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This currency is the the fifth most-traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the US dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the pound sterling. Originally, the country of Switzerland had a very complex monetary system, with each canton or federal state having its own type of currency. In 1850, the Swiss franc was officially adopted by the Swiss Federal Government to simplify this monetary system.

The cost of goods in Switzerland is around twice that of the United States. This low purchasing power is because many entities around the world use the Swiss franc as a reserve currency. Switzerland is also famous as a safe haven for investors. It attracts significant foreign investment, which pushed the Swiss franc to record highs against the Euro and the US dollar during the current global recession. The note displayed above shows a 100 Franc bill, with the signature works of Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966).


Comoros (Comorian Franc)

Comoros is a small island nation, situated off the east coast of Africa, north of Madagascar. The Comoros were ruled by the French for 130 years before the island country gained independence in 1975. The first Comorian currency in paper form was issued in 1920. It included an emergency issue of Madagascar postage stamps that was fixed to card to be used as cash in denominations of 50 centimes and 1 franc. The Comorian currency is manufactured by the Banque de France at their paper mill in Vic-le-Comte and their printing works in Chamalières, both located in Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne. The new 500, 1000, and 2000 Comorian franc notes include the EURion constellation.


Cook Islands (Cook Island Dollars)

The Cook Islands are located halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Originally, the New Zealand pound was the currency of the Cook Islands, until 1967, when it was replaced by the New Zealand dollar. In 1972, special coins were issued exclusively for the Cook Islands, with banknotes being printed in 1987. The Cook Islands dollar is equal in value to the New Zealand dollar. This Cook Islands dollar consists of 100 cents, although some 50 cent coins carry the denomination as '50 tene'. In 1987, the government brought out 3, 10 and 20 dollar currency notes. Five years later, in 1992, 50 Dollar Cook Island currency notes were brought out as part of a new series of notes.


Faroe Islands (Kronurs)

Located in the far North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are situated about halfway between Iceland and Norway. The currency of the Faroe Islands is the króna, issued by the Danish National Bank. This currency is not an an independent currency but a form of the Danish krone. The Faroe Islands króna is divided into 100 oyrur. The National Bank of Denmark exchanges the Danish kroner to Faroese krónur and vice versa free of charge. Denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 Faroe Islands krónur currency have been printed. Between 2001 and 2005, a new banknote series with enhanced security features was launched to replace the older notes.


The French Pacific Territories (Franc)

The French Pacific Terrritories are also known as French Polynesia. They comprise the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva. It is signified by the initials CFP, which stand for Communauté Financière du Pacifique. One side of the French Polynesia currency banknotes shows landscapes or historical figures of French Polynesia, while the reverse shows scenes and figures from New Caledonia. The French Polynesian Franc currency has a fixed exchange rate with the euro at 1,000 XPF = 8.38 euro. The currency notes are available in denominations of 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000.


Hong Kong (Hong Kong Dollars)

The Hong Kong dollar with the sign HKD is the official currency of Hong Kong. It is usually abbreviated with the $ sign or written as HK$. This dollar is the 9th most traded currency in the world. The Hong Kong dollar currency is subdivided into 100 cents. The Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration gives Hong Kong full autonomy with regard to issuing currency. Hong Kong dollars are issued by the Government of Hong Kong and three local banks that are supervised by the territory's de facto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Bank notes are printed by Hong Kong Note Printing Limited.


Iceland (Kronurs)

The currency of Iceland is the króna with the currency code ISK. Iceland does not use the Euro as it is not a part of the European Union. The Iceland króna technically consists of 100 aurar, which is seldom used today. Originally the Danish krone or crown was used in the country, until 1885, when Iceland began issuing its own banknotes. In 1961, the Seðlabanki Íslands became the central bank of Iceland and began issuing paper money, in denominations of 10, 25, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 krónur. Currently, Iceland currency notes of 100 krónur or less no longer circulate, as they have been withdrawn by the central bank. As of today, the main currency notes in circulation are of the 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 denominations.


The Maldives (Rufiyaa)

The Republic of Maldives is a chain of more than 1,300 islands and cays located in the Indian Ocean, around 500 miles southwest of India. Centuries ago, the country used cowrie shells as currency, which became the world's first international commodity-currency. The most common symbols for the Maldives Rufiyaa are MRF and Rf. The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) controlls the issue of Maldives Rufiah coins and banknotes. The Maldives currency is relatively strong against the US dollar because of the high level of tourism in the country.


New Zealand (New Zealand Dollars)

The New Zealand dollar is usually written as NZ$ to differentiate it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents and is also known informally as the 'Kiwi (dollar)'. The New Zealand dollar money is one of the 12 most traded currencies of the world. The note displayed on the above NZ$ 5 banknote shows, Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to stand on top of Mount Everest in 1953. The New Zealand dollar currency also circulates in the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents. The New Zealand dollar was introduced in 1967, replacing the New Zealand pound when the country decimalised its currency. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has issued banknotes in the denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.


Sao Tome and Principe (Dobras)

Sao Tome and Principe is a group of volcanic islands located in the Gulf of Guiana, off the western equatorial African coast. It was once a Portuguese colony and has beautiful beaches and wildlife, like the Sao Tome kingfisher (Alcedo thomensis) displayed on the above note. The currency of the islands is the 'Dobra'. It is abbreviated as Db and is subdivided into 100 cêntimos. The Dobra came into being in 1977, when it replaced the Portuguese Escudo currency at par. In 2009, São Tomé and Príncipe signed a deal with Portugal, which linked the Dobra with the Euro. Sao Tome and Principe Dobras currency notes are issued by the Banco Nacional de São Tomé e Príncipe in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 dobras notes.