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The Modern American Banknote - 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
