Still waiting for a 50 billion dollar agro cheque from Zimbabwe to arrive in the mail; hyperinflation has reached the point where this note is only worth 50 US cents! The Zimbabwe dollar is essentially worthless now (its notes only of value to collectors, and I'm sure there's enterprising Zimbabweans who have figured this out and are getting a hold of hard cash by selling the notes to collectors on eBay and such). When it shows up I'll post a thread on the hyperinflation notes I've been collecting, those that have nominal denominations of one billion and higher (have at least one from every hyperinflation period I know of that has reached the point of having 1 billion or higher denominations, except post-WWI Germany, working on that next). Anyway have recently acquired a few other interesting notes other than those, including two hyperinflation notes that came with one I acquired for the above collection. Republic of Serbian Krajina, 100,000,000 dinars, 1993 This is from the short-lived (and never recognized) Serbian Krajina; when Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, the predominately Serbian portion of Croatia declared independece from Croatia as Serbian Krajina. The Krajina dinar was pegged 1:1 to the Yugoslav dinar and thus suffered the same hyperinflation Yugoslavia did. Eventually Krajina was incorporated back into what is now Croatia. Like the castle on the hill on the obverse. Republic of Serbian Krajina, 500,000,000 dinars, 1993 Same note basically except for the colors and denomination. Japan, 2000 yen, 2000 Japan issued this note in 2000 to commemorate the G8 summi held in Naha, Okinawa that year (and also the new millenium, hence the 2000 yen denomination). This note was not especially popular as ciruclating currency, since cash drawers were not set up to accomadate it and vending machines wouldn't accept it... so while it's common in banks and post offices, it rarely shows up in circulation (much like the US $2 bill). The front features the Shureimon, a castle gate and well known landmark in Okinawa near where the summit took place. The reverse features a scene and tex from the Tale of Genji; its author, Murasaki Shikibu, is depcited in the lower right hand corner, making her the first woman to ever appear on a Japanese banknote. Maldives, 5 rufiyaa, 2000 Both the front and back of this note feature the dhoni, a sailing boat used especially for fishing which is a unique symbol of the Maldives. Israel, 5 lirot, 1968 Iconic depiction of Albert Einstein (1879-1955) on this note. Libya, 1 dinar, 2004 Oddly posed picture of Colonel Qadaffi on this note. Love the colors though. Nagorno-Karabakh, 10 dram, 2004 Another from an unrecognized state; Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto republic in the middle of what is officially part of Azerbaijan. The ethnically Armenian population of N-K is predominately Christian as emphasized by the depiction of Jesus Christ on this note. The depiction of Christ reminds me of Byzantine mosaics. North Korea, 5 won, 1978 Typical communist imagery on the front; a worker holding a big gear and a woman carrying rice against a very detailed background of some sort of industrial complex. I love the reverse; the dramatic mist shrouded mountains are beuatiful. They are a depiction of the mountains that form the border between North Korea and China. Japan (Japanese military currency), 50 sen, 1938 This currency was issued to the Japanese military for use in China. Another for my "Dragon Collection"; love the dragon on this note! It's a very dynamic picture that looks like he's flying through clouds.
Actually the first Japanese woman to appear on a banknote was back in the 1880's an Empress from way back when appeared on one of their notes. But the next was indeed on this 2000 Yen note. Colonel Qadaffi, well an odd pose, but an odd guy. Lately he seems to be medicated, and not quite so odd and erratic anymore, he is almost normal. Prozac works wonders.
OK, second, I stand corrected. I looked it up; yes the first woman to appear on a Japanese note was Empress Jingu, who appeared on a note in 1881. Well it was meant to be her anyway... the artist who painted the picture painted it from imagination, since no known pictures existed of her. (You'll notice the woman depicted does not look especially Japanese... here is a picture of it.) The 3rd woman is Ichiyo Higuchi, who has been depicted on the 5000 yen note since 2004.
