The thing about international currencies is that you can hold, send and spend them all digitally with a few swipes of an app and tap of a card with Zing.
But that hasn’t stopped some places around the world creating their own coins that are out-of-pocket – in more ways than one.
Let’s take a look at some weird currencies the world has to offer: Odd coin edition.
1. The Benin cannabis franc
Benin has released a few series of collectible 100 Franc coins sporting the seven-pointed cannabis leaf.
Fun fact: One series released in 2011, of which only 2,500 pieces reportedly exist, has been scratch-and-sniff. No prizes for guessing what kind of scent.
2. The Manchukuo cardboard Yuan
A coin used by Japanese Imperial forces during their occupation of Manchuria. They were made from cardboard due to the high demand for metal
Fun Fact: The currency circulated for around 13 years.
3: The Mongolian Record-a-Coin Tugrik
A 2007 mint of this coin shows the US President JFK on one side and a button on the other. Press it and a video plays of his 1963 “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech.
Fun fact: 500 Tugrik is around £0.23 in today’s money. Sadly most of these coins have been snapped up by collectors.
4: The Palau Holy Water dollar coin
Also in 2007, the island nation of Palau in Oceania issued silver dollar coins, each with a tiny phial of holy water embedded inside.
Fun fact: The holy water came all the way from the spring of a shrine in Lourdes, France. The coin also features the Virgin Mary. Money doesn’t get much holier than this.
5. The Australian country-shaped silver coins
Since 2012, the Perth Mint releases rare coins shaped like Australia, each boasting a different animal. The kookaburra, koala and saltwater crocodile have all taken the spotlight in turn.
Fun fact: Australia knows its brand, also releasing a surfboard-shaped coin in 2020. You can’t get this on Zing, but you can hold, send and spend AUD.
Did this article tickle your interest in international currency? It might not be as eccentric as some of these mints, but you can use many global currencies for money transfers, card payments and more, with Zing. Download the app now.
