Everyone has seen foreign coins and banknotes before, but how close have you really looked? Many coins and banknotes have messages hidden within them to pay tribute to a national figure, an aspect of culture, or to express a political viewpoint.

 In this blog, we’ll briefly explore three fascinating examples of hidden messages in currency.

New Zealand $1 coin

In 2003, the Bank of New Zealand issued a limited version of the 1-dollar coin inspired by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, depicting the Ring of Power with gold plating and Tengwar writing around the edge, which translates to:

“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.”

This was done to commemorate the fact that the whole film series had been filmed at over 150 different locations spanning both the North and South islands of New Zealand.

Australian $10 note

The Australian 10-dollar banknote prominently features images of poets Andrew Barton Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore. What is less apparent, however, is that the banknotes also feature excerpts from their most popular poetry in microprint. 

This pays tribute to their work, which presented key areas of Australian culture and values from the late 19th century through to WW2 and doubles as a security feature.

German 10,000 marks note

The German 10,000 mark notes, first issued in January 1922, initially seem unassuming, portraying an image of a young man by German renaissance painter Albrecht Durer. 

When rotated 90 degrees, however, an image of what seems to be a hooded vampire is seen with its mouth open at the man’s neck. 

This image is likely an allusion to the widespread anti-French sentiment in post-World War I Germany, due to the reparations demands imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. These reparations contributed to economic collapse and extreme hyperinflation (an era in which these very banknotes played a role).

Takeaways

Currency is more than just a means of exchange, it’s a canvas for culture, history, and even protest. 

Whether it’s the fantastical tribute of New Zealand’s Lord of the Rings coin, the poetic legacy woven into Australia’s $10 note, or the haunting political symbolism hidden in a German banknote, these subtle details remind us to look closer. Next time you hold a foreign coin or note, take a moment, you might just uncover a story beneath the surface.

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Do you have any old notes or coins lying around? Don’t let them gather dust; turn them into cash with us at Leftover Currency.

We take withdrawn banknotes and coins. It’s quick, easy, and you’ll get paid in pounds straight to your bank account.