«The most» banknotes

The oldest banknote known in the world nowadays.

It was released in China by a private individual in the VIII century, released by the state — in 812 AD.

The most valuable at its face value banknote in the world.

Sextillion (a billion trillion) of Hungarian pengos, banknote released in 1946 is the most valuable  banknote at its face value in the world. 

Pengo, the monetary unit of Hungary from 1945 to 1946, known by the highest level of inflation ever noticed in the history of the world circulation of currency. Its derivative, which was introduced in July 1946, was equal to 2 000 000 000 000 pengos.At the same time a note in 1 (ed) billion trillion  (10 with 21 zeros) pengos was released, the most valuable at its face value banknote on  Earth.

The most valuable by its purchasing power currently running banknote.

A bill in the U.S. $ 10 000, released from the late XIX century. Of course, the purchasing power of these banknotes, printed from 1880, then was more than ten times higher than now. But even today, more than hundred years later, these repeatedly devalued banknotes still have the highest purchasing power in the world.

Banknote 10,000 U.S. dollars. 1934 

Currently, from all ever released banknotes with a face value of 10 000 dollars, which are strictly controlled by the Federal Reserve System, the last release was a series of 1934. So far only 130 pieces are not removed from the circulation (including  hopelessly lost notes). Therefore, in modern catalogs their value is usually not specified,  a standard signature to the image in the catalog reads — «rarity.»

Banknote with the highest purchasing power for the internal use in the country

– is 1,000,000 pounds taken out of circulation. It was printed for the calculations within the Bank of England. Today, we know only two pieces. The auction price of it in 2008 was 78 000 pounds.

— U.S. $ 100 000. Valid only in bill payments between banks, the U.S. Treasury, Fed. Bill is not for sale to collectors.

An unusual banknote

In 2007, a triple commemorative banknote was issued in Thailand. It consists of three notes in denominations of one, five and ten baths, united by one payment sheet with the size of 147x228mm. Moreover, this bill in 16 bahts is the largest note by its size which is a means of payment at the moment.

Banknotes of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, the CIS, Russian Federation

The biggest by its face value banknote in the country

is 1 000 000 000 (in common parlance called «limard»), the Transcaucasian SFSR rubles released in 1924.

The smallest by its face value banknote in the country

— 1 copeck was first issued by Nicholas II in 1915 due to the shortage of change because of the  outbreak of World War II. Once released in Libau during the Civil War, by the USSR State Bank, various Ministries and People’s Commissariat: Vneshposyltorg, Vneshtorgbank, Arktikugol printed for internal calculations at the company.

The most valuable by its purchasing power and the size banknote of the Russian Empire

Banknote  in 500 rubles, «Petya». 1912 

Banknote «Petya» — 500 rubles, produced from 1898 to 1912, the most valuable banknote of Russia, that was in circulation until 1917. It could be changed to 430 grams of gold. Sample size of this bill in 1912 — 275h126 mm.

On August 1, 1914 Russia entered the First World War. Since July 27, 1914 the Law repealed exchange of banknotes for gold.

The most valuable by its purchasing power bill of the USSR

— 25 tchervonets (250 rubles) released in 1922 — the largest bill in circulation of the RSFSR and the USSR after 1917. Could be changed to 215 grams of gold.

The least valuable by its purchasing power bill of the country

— One ruble in pyatakovki released in 1918 or in Soviet notes released in 1919. In 1924, during the denomination the banknote cost 1/50 000 000 000 part of 1 ruble of Soviet gold coins. Figuratively speaking, a gold piece was worth 500 billion rubles in the edition of 1918.

The most valuable at its face value banknote of  CIS

Issued in 1998, 5 000 000 non-denominated Byelorussian rubles.

The biggest banknote by its size within the country

The banknote 500 rubles («Petya») issued in 1912 in the Russian Empire.

The smallest banknote by its size

— Banknote worth one pound of bread, released in Kiev in 1921 (excluding coins).

— 1 ruble-grade of the RSFSR released in 1922.

Unusual banknotes

— From 1919 to 1921 wine labels, designed in a special way, were used as money in Yakutia. They were released by Alexei Semenov, future People’s Commissariat of Finance of the Republic of Yakutia.

Banknote worth 1 pound of bread, Kiev, 1921.

— In 1921, during the famine and rampant hyperinflation of Soviet Republic rubles, Kiev Agricultural union issued a check in the currency that did not devalued every day, it was worth a pound of bread.