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Beauty in everything

The art of money

A Costa Rican banknote for five colones. The art of money

A Costa Rican banknote for five colones. The art of money

The art of money
Traditionally, beautiful currencies of different countries inspire us. Meanwhile, we admire them not as banknotes, but as a kind of art. For example, Costa Rican banknote, that shows Rafael Yglesia Castro, president of Costa Rica from 1894 to 1902 and a Guaria Morada orchid, Costa Rica’s national flower. Noteworthy, the current series of banknotes is being replaced throughout 2010.

A colorful five dollar Australian note. In 1965, Australia adopted the name 'royal' for its currency, but it was later dropped in favor of the dollar

A colorful five dollar Australian note. In 1965, Australia adopted the name ‘royal’ for its currency, but it was later dropped in favor of the dollar

All Egyptian banknotes are bilingual, with Arabic text and Eastern Arabic numerals on one side, and English and Hindu Arabic numerals on the reverse

A note for one Egyptian pound. All Egyptian banknotes are bilingual, with Arabic text and Eastern Arabic numerals on one side, and English and Hindu Arabic numerals on the reverse

The art of money

A 100 dirham note from the UAE, showing the World Trade Centre. A falcon watermark is placed on all UAE banknotes to help prevent fraud

The art of money

The art of money

A five rupee note from Pakistan. The port depicted is Gwadar port, which opened in 2008

The art of money

A five ringgit note from Malaysia showing the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Petronas Twin Towers, and the Multimedia Super Corridor

The art of money

A 20 rand note from South Africa. Each in this series of banknotes features a different animal from the ‘big five’

The art of money

A floral 1000 note from French Polynesia, where the currency is the CPF franc

The art of money

A 500 baht note from Thailand. This is roughly equivalent to £10 of British money

The art of money

A Surinamese ten dollar note. The dollar replaced the Surinamese guilder in January 2004

The art of money

A one lempira note from Honduras. The lempira was introduced in 1931, and is named after a 16th century ruler who led resistance against Spanish conquistadors

The art of money

A New Zealand note for five dollars, depicting New Zealand’s native hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin

The art of money

A Bahamian one dollar note, showing the Royal Bahamas police force band

The art of money

A one dinar note from Libya. The dinar replaced the pound in 1971

The art of money

An Indonesian note for 1000 rupiah. The word rupiah derives from the Indian rupee. This note shows traditional houses in the city of Palembang

The art of money

Swiss Franc

The art of money

Switzerland (Francs)

The art of money

The French Pacific Territories (Franc)

The art of money

The Maldives (Rufiyaa)

The art of money

Zambian Kwacha

The art of money

A Canadian bank note for five dollars, depicting children playing ice hockey

The art of money

Antarctic Dollar

The art of money

Australian Dollar

The art of money

CFP Franc

The art of money

Comoros (Comorian Franc)

The art of money

Cook Islands (Dollars)

The art of money

Dutch Guilder. The art of money

The art of money

faroe islands

The art of money

Hong Kong (Dollars)

The art of money

Iceland (Kronurs)

The art of money

New Zealand Dollars

The art of money

Artful New Zealand Dollars

The art of money

Sao Tome & Principe (Dobras)

The art of money

South African Rand

telegraph.co.uk/finance