Banknotes of the World
Whenever you come across a foreign banknote, you are looking at its face value. But if you are interested in history, geography or in the events of the near past, and take a liking for graphics, you might want to have a closer look at the note, which serves as something like the greeting card of the host country to the visitor.
More...
Ever since the first banknotes were issued, the most important consideration was security. Until the middle of the last century forging was made difficult by adopting increasingly complicated artwork and sophisticated colours.
Although etchings have become less fashionable, minute details, hard-to-come by colours and sophisticated motives have all become basic requirements on banknotes. Every country would like to present a scene from its history which it is proud of, possibly in the most artistic and most beautiful representation.
The nineties have brought about a lot of change in this respect, too. In the wake of the sweeping political changes, some countries have been dissolved or re-grouped into new states, others have just issued a whole set of new banknotes. This was the time when I started to honour the beauty of new banknotes and became interested in what motives the new states, many of them set up in East-Central Europe, chose to be featured. Certainly modern technology was also introduced in the production of banknotes on other continents too.
It is worth to consider that the classic idea of a reproduction of a famous prominent figure or city is still dominating the design, however the artwork has become more experimental than before.
My collection is trying to help to understand what the message of different countries is to the people who come across their banknotes. It does not aim to use scientific methods, I have based my comments on the pieces of the collection on my personal experience and the impressions I gathered during my travels. Using the little Google map I tried to represent where the building or landscape of the respective country can be found on the map. The banknotes can be looked at in the Picasa albums by paging them, or they can be enlarged to full screen size. Using the slide show mode one can even choose to have a „monetary screen saver” on one’s monitor.
I would be honoured if visitors would reflect on the text presenting the collection offering their comments, suggestions and corrections.
I express my heartfelt thanks to all the donors for having contributed to my collection.
Tamás Ónody
contact : onodyt@gmail.com
x Close
Interjú a Magyar Televízióban a bankjegyek szépségéről
Ónody Tamás kétkötetetes könyvének rövid összefoglalója.