It's all about dat money, money, money #FridayFunFacts
This week we're celebrating currencies with a #FridayFunFacts ALL about money! Why, you ask? Because we just launched a feature on our site that lets you pay in your local currency, no matter where you are in the world. We've got Panamanian Balboas, Malasian Ringgits, Polish Zlotys and more! So here are some things you might not have known about currencies around the world. Enjoy!
Historically hooligan in nature, early colonial Australians used rum as their main currency. So, New South Wales Corps officers did the clever thing and bought up all the imported rum and established a 17-year monopoly on its trade. When Governor William Bligh tried to end it, he was deposed in the only armed takeover of government in Australian history. It was known as the Rum Rebellion.
So, in true Australian form, when Australia broke free from the British Pound, they held a competition to name the new currency. Some of the suggestions were Austral, the Oz, the Boomer, the Roo, the Kanga, the Emu, the Digger, the Quid, the Dinkum and the Ming. In a vastly disappointing display of sensibleness, the government ultimately decided on the Australian Dollar.
The Burmese president of the late 80s had some strange and specific preferences. He loved the number 9 so much, that he drove his country to an economic crisis because he decided to cancel any currency that wasn’t divisible by 9.
During World War II, Nazis forged £134,610,810 worth of British pounds. Why? To destabilise the British economy, of course. With typical German precision, they did this so well that the notes are considered among the most perfect counterfeits ever produced, almost impossible to distinguish from the real deal.
Now onto some made-up currencies:
Economics researchers at Yale managed to teach Capuchin monkeys to understand the concept of currency. The monkeys started trading and guess what they used their newfound currency to buy? Yep. You got it in one. Sex.
And finally, have you ever wanted your own face on a bank note? Of course you have. Well, for only £43 000 you can rent the entire country of Liechtenstein for one night, complete with customised street signs and your very own temporary currency. When you do this, please forward your castle party invitation for the 42courses team to chris@42courses.com. We'll bring some Australian rum and sex-crazed Capuchins. It'll be great. Thanks!
