Here’s an amusing part of my collection, the highest denomination banknote ever issued: a $100 trillion “dollar” (10^14th) Zimbabwean note issued in 2008. The actual monetary value of the note when issued was somewhat less that the worth of 8 ounces of used cat litter. Shortly thereafter the Zimbabwean currency system totally collapsed with the locals instead temporarily adopting 6 packs or Heineken beer (really!) as a basis for economic exchange until the US dollar became the de facto currency. In the meantime, Zimbabwean currency in various denominations from a few hundred millions up to the pictured 10^14th became available… Read more »
Austrian 4 Ducat gold coin, circa 1915, featuring Franz Joseph, Emperor of the the Austrian Hungarian Empire. From my collection.
If I remember correctly this coin contains .44 oz of pure gold.
That is a treasure from a lost world. A world that still contained a Hapsburg Emperor who was the successor to the crown of Charlemagne.
Here’s an amusing part of my collection, the highest denomination banknote ever issued: a $100 trillion “dollar” (10^14th) Zimbabwean note issued in 2008. The actual monetary value of the note when issued was somewhat less that the worth of 8 ounces of used cat litter. Shortly thereafter the Zimbabwean currency system totally collapsed with the locals instead temporarily adopting 6 packs or Heineken beer (really!) as a basis for economic exchange until the US dollar became the de facto currency. In the meantime, Zimbabwean currency in various denominations from a few hundred millions up to the pictured 10^14th became available… Read more »