I’ve already asked about the most valuable circulating coins by buying power in the world (which got an amazing response), so now I want to see if the forum can come to a consensus on this as well. The most valuable banknotes by buying power are already well documented (the 10,000 ringgit from Brunei followed by the 1,000 franc from Switzerland), but I’m curious about the least. Banknotes are not my field of expertise (I just started collecting them about a month ago) so I only have one candidate: the Malaysian 1 ringgit note which is worth about 19p as of 04/06/2020 but I am nearly sure that this is not it.
some criteria to avoid confusion:
1. Numismatic value (e.g. on star notes or rare serial numbers) and face value don’t count. The 1/4 dinar note from Kuwait has a very low face value (0.25 dinars) but is worth more than the 1 ringgit note (1 ringgit face value) in buying power and exchange rates. Only buying power determines which one is the least valuable.
2. The note has to have been issued currently or recently. Fractional banknotes from the American civil war and the British 10 shilling note are not contenders. Preferably the note is issued for circulation in 2019 or 2020, but I know some smaller/poorer countries only issue banknotes when a new series is released and those notes stay in circulation until the series is replaced by a new one.
Venezuela's Bolivian soberanes is currently inflating to nothing. The first series of notes in 2018 are worthless by now, but I don't know if they are really circulating anymore. The second series in 2019, in much higher denominations, are worth USD $0.05 to $0.25, but probably not for long.
In September 2019 the lowest valued currencies were the Iranian rial, Vietnamese dong and Venezuelan bolivar. I would think the bolivar is now the lowest as even the people of the country do not use them but that would make them non circulating.
the least valuable note is probably from one of those currencies, but this thread is for individual banknotes. If the UK decided to make a 0.00000000000000000000001p banknote that would be it, even though the pound is a very strong currency.
the least valuable note is probably from one of those currencies, but this thread is for individual banknotes. If the UK decided to make a 0.00000000000000000000001p banknote that would be it, even though the pound is a very strong currency.
Pardon me but it is relevant. As the link clearly states, these CURRENCIES CAN PLUMMET wildly as do the banknote values independent of each other on a daily basis. I provided the information as a base reference and thought it would provide you with the information for you to do your own homework.
A good contender is the Cuba 1 Peso Cubano (1 CUP), that is currently circulating, with value equivalent to USD 0.039, this exchange rate is stable from several years, not product of hyperinflation. 1 Peso Cuban (1 CUP)
Just 10 options: you understand binary, or you don't.
Catalog Referee Coins, Banknotes & Exonumia: Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Zamunda, Parva Domus and more.
No one is ever going to use one in circulation though, they only remain legal tender for the sake of banks, who might need exact amounts of cash on hand. When I think of the ‘least/most valuable in circulation’ question, I think of money that is actually used in day-to-day commerce.