LARGEST DENOMINATIONS OF PAPER MONEY

[Templar]

  A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME A BILL TODAY AND IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AMOUNTS I HAVE EVER SEEN SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU AND MAYBE GENERATE SOME OTHER NOTES--THE WAY OUR ECONOMY IS GOING--THIS MAY BE ONE OF OUR NEXT DOLLARS?
                  THANKS--THE TEMPLAR

[Paint Your Wagon]

Haha now I am confused
It says 10 billion on the first side and 50 billion on the second side
But I know nothing about folding money except to buy groceries with

[scottishmoney]

I think the highest they got to in Jugoslavija was 500 Billion, but the Zimbabweans got to 100 Trillion, perhaps the USA will go higher under Body Odour?

[Templar]

 MY ERROR--HERE IS THE BACKSIDE OF THE NOTE I DISPLAYED (I HOPE)
                           TEMPLAR

[Paint Your Wagon]

 MY ERROR--HERE IS THE BACKSIDE OF THE NOTE I DISPLAYED (I HOPE)
                           TEMPLAR

yup I even understand millardi dinari cause in Flemish it is millarden dinars and it sounds more italian then yougi

[Sap]

The Yugoslavs, with their 500 billion note, score points for persisting with actually putting all the zeroes there on the notes. Lots of other hyperinflationary notes have "larger numbers", but they're written in words, not numerals.

Post-WWI Germany issued notes in the low trillions. Mugabe's Zimbabwe has issued notes in the hundred-trillions, and there's no sign of the hyperinflation slowing down there yet. But both pale in comparison to post-WWII Hungary, which issued notes in the low quintillions.

[Templar]

  THANKS FOR THAT INFORMATION---I CANNOT IMAGINE THE RATIONALE FOR PRINTING SUCH HUGE BILLS--THE PAPER TO PRINT ON AND THE INK MUST COST MORE THAN THE ACTUAL NOTE--GO FIGURE!

              YOUR SERVANT--THE TEMPLAR

[Sap]

In severe hyperinflation, even super-high denomination notes do indeed quickly become worthless. Do a Google Images search for "hyperinflation" and you can see many tragi-comedic examples:

Kids playing with bundles of notes because it was cheaper than buying them wooden blocks.

Guys pushing wheelbarrowfuls of money around just to buy a loaf of bread.

A lady shovelling banknotes into the furnace because it was cheaper than actually buying fuel.

Someone gluing banknotes onto the walls of their house because it was cheaper than buying wallpaper.

And my favourite: a street-sweeper brushing away banknotes that are littering the street like fallen leaves, because they literally weren't worth the effort of picking up. This last pic was from near the end of the Hungarian hyperinflation.

[scottishmoney]

Some countries like Indonesia had their currency depreciate then stablise and even appreciate moderately, but they have never re-valued their currency:



Currently about $1, which has actually been a fairly stable exchange rate for a number of years.  Why they do not revalue the currency defies explanation.

Similarly in Japan after WWII the Yen depreciated to about 360 to the dollar,  but has appreciated against the dollar steadily since the 1960's to where there are only 93 Yen to the dollar.  I have a pile of coins my father got during his stay in Japan back then that have actually appreciated in monetary value against the dollar.

[scottishmoney]

The country that has re-valued it's currency the most times hands down though is Yugoslavija, followed by Brazil.

[Samuel Tan]

Indonesia, oh my God.
1986 I sold my house in Jakarta. I designed and build that beautiful custom house. Too bad I can't move it to the States. Before I finish the construction, a neighbor offer me almost $200,000.- cash. I declined, since I thought I can convince my partner to build based on my concept. Also, I would like to enjoy the fruit of my labor for a little while. But all of sudden things changed, I have to leave. I sold it for less than $160,000. Before the buyer pay me, the Indonesian government cut the value of the Rupiah to half (against Dollar). After paying everybody, I got a big O. This was not the first and not the last one Indonesia did this. I still remember in 1970's my cousin, a Military Doctor took his several months pay in a suit case, due to small value, from the nearest town. All in the biggest nomination. On the way back by boat, he listen to the radio announcing that The Gov. eliminate one zero on their big bills, it was Rp10,000.- and Rp5,000.-. He almost trow away his suit case to the river. He left Indonesia, went to The Netherlands where he studied. The peasant did not get effected by this regulation, since they did not hold big money. It called as the wisdom of The Gov. to help small people. Who you kiddin, the merchants pass it to them. Today, Rp 10,000 can buy you and your spouse, lunch in a simple restaurant. You can live comfortable for $500.- per month, that is including domestic home maker and driver.
Samuel Tan