Notes that make you go “huh?”

I enjoy all the beautiful notes on this site, and the enthusiasm for this hobby expressed by everyone that posts on CT. But we probably all have a sad, ugly, mangy dog of a note that holds a soft spot in our heart.
So, what’s your ugliest or most bizarre note? You know what I mean – you look at it and say “what were they thinking”?
I have two that come to mind.
The 1 cent Zimbabwe Bearer Cheque, issued 1 August 2006, with an expiry date of 31 July 2007. You know your currency is in trouble when it includes a “best before” date. Zimbabwe has experienced hyperinflation over the past decade, resulting in 100 billion and 100 trillion dollar notes, all rapidly demonetized after issue. If an exchange value for this obsolete currency could be established, it would have a string of zeros trailing off over the horizon. Yet even the humble 1 cent note includes several security features, including a watermark and a metallic stripe. The country itself, home to Victoria Falls, is beautiful, and deserving of a better fate. I hope they will turn the corner soon.

Then there’s my favourite ugly one – a series really. For years, I listened to my American friends compare Canadian money to monopoly money, with too many colours and too many changes. I always felt that they were missing something, and that our Canadian money was indeed beautiful. But sadly, we let Jimi Hendrix design a series of Canadian notes in late 60’s – early 70’s. Maybe he wasn’t actually involved but it’s hard to tell, looking back at the notes. The “multi-coloured” series was aptly-named. The whole box of crayons was used when they were designed. Hey, it was the 60’s, right? While the series was not all bad - the back of the $50 was the RCMP Musical Ride after all – they were way too trendy, so aged poorly as designs.
Enough history, you be the judge. Here is the front of the $5 and $10. To top it off, there were two versions of the $5 and the $20 in the series, as the serial numbers were moved from the front of the notes to the back halfway through the series. Truly, an example of poorly thought-out design, with little integration throughout the series. They were replaced by the “Bird” series beginning in 1986, a well integrated series that closed a forgettable chapter in an otherwise proud tradition of Canadian Banknotes.

 

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A one cent note, It probably cost more then that to produce! talk about a total waste
Of Money!

 

Thats what I was thinking....what would one cent buy in Zimbabwe? You would need 487 dumptruck loads to buy a Pepsi. Interesting piece, though. The expiration date alone is a great story.
Guy~

 

Probably, but a 1 cent coin would cost even more!!! Now THAT's a currency crisis.

 

I actually like those canadian notes!

As for the One Cent note, when I got mine, I looked it up and it was worth 0.00004 US Dollars when it was printed. So yes it was worthless, but not if they shipped your request for new money with a boatload of these fractional notes mixed in with the other denominations.

But look at it held up to the light. If yours is like mine, it is printed on the paper for the 500 Zim-dollar note... the paper for the 500 was so worthless they used it for the one-cent note!

Neat, fun note to have though. Let's hope none of us ever gets caught up in such circumstances!

 

Thanks! You cleared up a mystery for me. I saw the "500" but did not realize why it was there.
While you're at it, what's the story behind "02022909" on the whole series? I got mine in Zimbabwe, from a casino. The workers threw in some of the previous series plus some coins. It was Nov 2006, so it was all pretty worthless by then, but the memory is priceless.

 

I don't know what significance 02022909 has. I thought it was just a series number or serial number. Maybe it was just a way for them to look official...?

I bet that was a heck of an experience there, eh? That's a good story to go along with it for sure!

 

I have a few of the Canadian notes in Unc. condition and they sure stand out in my album. I'm actually quite fond of them.

 

Anything after 1914 in the US considering the incredible run in the latter part of the 1800's!

Dead presidents and monuments (with the exception of the Two) are quite boring much like our circulating coins

 

Darryl.. I always thought about it the same way until I looked closer at some of the notes..here is our old common back of a $10 FRN..
not so boring afterall...huh??

 

I agree. When you see the "Educational" note, the "Bison" note, the "Indian Chief" note etc. which are amazing works of art, it makes you wonder why in the world they would go with the design for the modern notes that they did.

 

"
I agree. When you see the "Educational" note, the "Bison" note, the "Indian Chief" note etc. which are amazing works of art, it makes you wonder why in the world they would go with the design for the modern notes that they did. "

Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t122483/#post963890#ixzz0vacDiYbd



I agree with this too..especially with the Bison...the story is interesting to read why they went to small size notes...if I am not mistaken it had to do with some Military Currency that got them thinking about it..Korean I think it was..perhaps lettow can fill us in on it a little more??

RickieB


This is one of the top notes in the collection...

 

wow!

 

I'm sorry but these nice little fine details just do not strike you like some of the incredible pieces of art that came out of the later part of the 1800's. The edge designs alone squash the current designs in total. The scroll/symmetric work and incorporation of the different ways the value was represented was much more like art and less like "the blandness of bureaucracy"

I don't mean that comment to be as rude as it reads but to your point - look at that Bison note and compare that to a modern 1,5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 (even the new one hundred). Just doesn't compare and that is my only point. Today's notes are bland compared to many notes from the late 1800's.

 

Those close up pics are great, Rickie! I don't think I've ever looked at modern notes quite that close before.

 

Darryl.. no doubt, the FRNs could never compare..but I find that looking closely to them reveals some pretty good work as well. Nothing like the Large Size I covet, but still some good work.

RB

 

i wish the US would bring back the old notes, even if it were just for a limited amount of time. i have said it before but, do "throw back series". maybe each year a different decade or something along those lines. but make it all the notes and coins would be cool too.

i really don't have many notes, but the ones i do, i like. each one has something about it, that ties it with its country. i dunno its hard to explain! surprisingly i have had a few people tell me my Italian money is either ugly, or looks to much like play money. imo, these Italian notes are beautiful.



i guess the 1000 lire note, is not as nice as the 500, but i think the 500 looks great.

 

That one note could be the pinnacle of any respectable collection!

 

To me this $2 SC note is a representation of the pinnacle of engraving. I have always been awe struck by it and had to have one. I often think of adding the Fr 240, 241 and 242 as well if I ever strike the lottery!. This is simply just incredible work.

 

I wouldn't disagree Rick, but that's just my point, pick almost any of the note of this period and you are just in awe of the artistry. The engravers had much more artistic freedom and came up with some incredible designs!