The World of Money: Little-Known Stories and Figures.

Today we’ve prepared something light and entertaining for you — a collection of surprising facts from around the world, all related to money. Many of them will truly amaze you — these are things people rarely talk about.

Some of these facts are amusing, others are quite strange, but they all clearly show just how fascinating the world of finance can be.

Of course, there are many more such stories, but we selected those that, in our opinion, not only entertain but also make you think.

Some of the anecdotes are rooted in ancient traditions or reflect practical uses of money in the past. Others reveal how complicated handling cash can be. And some simply astonish with their scale.

Interesting facts and anecdotes about money:

• The most commonly counterfeited banknote in the world is the US $20 bill. The $100 note comes in second. Interestingly, the death penalty is still in effect in the US for mint employees found guilty of counterfeiting.
• North Korea is considered a leader in producing fake US dollars. Their “superdollars” ($50 and $100 bills) are so masterfully forged that special equipment is needed to detect them. In 2009, over 45 million of these counterfeit bills were circulating.
• Worn-out money is sent for recycling. Coins are melted down and reused, while banknotes can be turned into things like roofing tiles or eco-friendly fireplace fuel. The phrase “burning money” becomes quite literal here.
• After World War I, inflation in Germany was so extreme that worthless bills were used as wallpaper or children’s toys.
• Want to become a billionaire in one day? In 2018, one US dollar was worth over 2.5 billion Zimbabwean dollars. Unfortunately, a loaf of bread at the time cost over 10 billion.
• Every year, more Monopoly money is printed worldwide than real currency.
• Engravers who create printing plates for banknotes are true artists. Their work requires extreme precision, and the patterns they etch into the metal plates must be mirrored.
• Only about 8% of the world’s money exists in physical form. The remaining 92% exists only as digital entries in computer systems.
• Modern coins have ridged edges to help the visually impaired distinguish denominations. Historically, this feature also helped prevent “shaving” — trimming off small amounts of precious metal.
• To get rid of slugs in your garden, simply bury a few coins. The copper and zinc in them deliver a mild electric shock to the pests.
• ATMs are installed on every continent, including the Arctic and Antarctica. The highest number of transactions occurs on Fridays, with the average amount being around $80 per person.
• Pablo Escobar reportedly spent about $2,500 a month on rubber bands to bundle $100 bills into stacks.
• You are three times more likely to die on your way to buy a lottery ticket than to win the jackpot.
• If you have $10 in your pocket and no debt, you are richer than a quarter of Americans.
• Money really is dirty — over 90% of banknotes have traces of cocaine, and flu viruses can survive on bills for up to 17 days.

What about you? Which of these facts surprised you the most? Or maybe you know other interesting money stories? Share them with us!

Lemoon 27.07.2025