While most of people tend to be all about the “Benjamins,” my addiction to money just can’t be found in your everyday bank. As I have travelled the world I have found myself more and more addicted to collecting money from the places I have been. I know have a decent size collection ranging from Bank Notes from the days of Nazi Germany, to 50,000,000,000 dinara printed during the inflation of 1996 in Yugoslavia! Yes you read that right, it is not a typo… 50 BILLION DINARA!!
It has become my greatest adventure trying to obtain current local money but also any interesting past notes worthy of keep sake.
I am not one to come back with key chains and t-shirts as souvenirs, but wild stories about how I got different currencies… well I have plenty of those.
I am still hoping to obtain all the coins of Euro, but working on my epic fail of keeping them prior to leaving. Since, countries using the Euro no longer have unique paper dollars, the back of coins will tell you just which country you got it from. Sadly, every time I am leaving I end up spending the coin or getting it lost. I do plan to back track and get them all one day though.
Here are some of my favorite from my collection! I even went as far as to get a display for my money specially made. #Addicted
My Own Money (Made in Serbia)
While in Serbia, I took a free walking tour, which I recommend in all cities you visit if you can find one. This is where I heard we would be stopping at the National Bank where they can put your face on money for FREE as a souvenir. Clearly with my addiction to money, I just had to get this!! However, by the time we got there it was closed. The next day I had to leave the city early on the bus to get to the airport. They were not open until later, however I told the guard the day before I would be back early! Once there, the guards were so nice to let me in to talk to the manager who after much pleading decided to allow me to enter the bank for a quick tour and GET THE MONEY MADE!! (YAY!) After taking my photo, we actually ended up exchanging numbers with hopes of me getting my hands on one of those billion-dollar dinara! He mentioned his family had tons at home, but due to my quick departure I was unable to get it from him. All in all, I got my face on money and met awesome people in the process.
50 Billion Dinara (Yugoslavia 1993) and Reichsbanknote (Nazi Bank Note 1910)
Well clearly I was not around during the time of the Nazi Regime, but while in Turkey in the market I passed a guy with a folder. I wasn’t paying much attention until my friend who I was walking with pointed out all the money in his possession. I of course had to turn around, and began inquiring on money. First I compared some known bills he had to ensure it was really money, such as American, Jamaican and Polish money. It all checked out, and then I saw it. the 50 BILLION DINARA I wanted back in Serbia. I quickly asked the price, which actually wasn’t much for the exchange and bought that plus a few more I would not be able to find circulating now such as the 200 Million Zimbabwe dollars.
Seeing my fascination with money, he pulls out a smaller folder, and there it was… Reich banknote from 1910!!! My eyes widened and heart pounding, I reached for it and had to get it immediately. There I was holding money from the days of Hitler, with so much power after having visited concentration camps and current day Berlin. So, just like that, I added my first uncirculated bills to my collection.
New Jamaican 50 Year Branded Money
In 2012, Jamaican celebrated 50 years of Independence. In doing so, they branded our dollar bill with the number 50 as well as with the Hummingbird (our National Bird). I guess I am most proud of this added to collection as a sense of pride. As anyone knows, I am always representing the fact that I am Jamaican. I love where I have come from, and want everyone to know just what made me who I am today. Having this as a part of my collection shows growth not just for Jamaica, but for me as well. tear
So, I am probably the only one super excited by the fact that there is so much history in money. It tells an untold tale of so many before, and I love that. It can carry so much hidden meaning and I can sit and listen the untold stories anytime. I live for adventure, but when it comes to money… what can I say… I make it rain!!!!
