Information on Different Banknotes

by Louie Doverspike

Overview

A banknote is a promissory note provided by a bank or government. In other words, it is any paper money that has no intrinsic worth on its own. Banknotes are the basis for most currencies used in the world today. Alongside coins, banknotes provide for all varieties of transaction, with the government backing (or attempting to back) the note's perceived value as a legal tender.
The Modern American Banknote

History

Banknotes originated as stand-ins for large sums of precious metal, serving more as a contractual obligation to pay, rather than a currency in itself. The first use of banknotes as having value in themselves was in 10th century China, with a currency called jiaozi.
Features

Today's banknotes are typically designed to celebrate a national heritage while preventing counterfeiting. For example, the Euro contains watermarks, special threads, raised print, iridescent stripes and hard-to-duplicate ink, all in an effort to thwart counterfeiters.
Famous Figures

Most of the world's currencies feature famous historical figures, such as Hideyo Noguchi, the bacteriologist who discovered syphilis' cause, on the 1,000 yen note or the first indigenous Mexican president, Benito Juarez, on the 20 peso note.
Features

Many notes also feature geographical or architectural treasures. Examples include the Astana-Baiterek Monument on Kazakhstan tenge and the Egyptian pound note, which features famous statues of Ramses II.
Materials

While design, size and value can be very different, most paper money in the world is made with durable starch paper, which is then blended with textiles such as linen.