What is the Worlds Oldest Currency Still in Use? 2025

The $1 bill represents 45% of the entire currency production, and it has 13 arrows, 13 stars, 13 leaves, and 13 stripes as a symbol of the 13 colonies. The name “yen” translates to “round object” due to the perfectly round shapes of the Japanese coins. The banknotes are one of the most challenging bills to forge because the holograms, watermarks, and special ink raise the surface to the touch, making printing or copying difficult.

List of Oldest Currencies in the World

Its origins date back to around 775 AD, during the Anglo-Saxon period, when silver pennies were first minted in England. The pound became the official currency of England in the 12th century under King Henry II, with the name initially referring to a unit of weight equal to one pound of silver. Moreover, UK’s decision to keep their own currency rather than adapting to the euro has retained national monetary sovereignty.

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Despite enduring periods of instability, currency devaluation, and economic challenges, the gourde has remained persistent for over two centuries. Changes and redesigns were placed between 1987 and 1997, reflecting China’s swift economic growth and policy shift. Recently, China has just released the digital version of Yuan called eRMB in aims to Cum se cum sa digitize circulation of banknotes and coins. 3 years later, paper dollar notes or greenbacks were introduced and emerged as the world’s primary currency in 1944 after the Bretton Woods Treaty. Changing to the fiat currency system in the 1970s, this approach allows the U.S Dollar’s value to float freely in global markets. Ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 yen, yen as the national currency of Japan featured prominent cultural figures on their banknotes.

Adjusting to Modern Financial Systems

The pound sterling is one of the most traded currencies in the world, along with the US dollar, Japanese yen, euro and Swiss franc. See our guide to the most traded forex pairs​ that comprise of these currencies and more. However, in 1940, an agreement with the US meant that the pound sterling changed to be pegged to the US dollar, as part of the Bretton Woods system which oversaw post-war exchange rates. Between these years until 1971, the pound was continually devalued against the dollar due to economic pressure. Upon breakdown of the Bretton Woods system, the pound became a free-floating currency and many others followed suit, which it remains to this day. Sterling silver pennies have been around since 775AD, with King Offa of Mercia generally credited with being responsible for the widespread adoption of the coins.

• The British pound is both the oldest and one of the most traded currencies​ in the world.
• The earliest forms were spade and knife money used during the Zhou Dynasty over 2,000 years ago.
• Ancient currencies have successfully integrated modern technologies like electronic payments, digital banking, and cryptocurrency innovations while maintaining their fundamental monetary functions.
• The name “pound” comes from a measuring system once used to calculate the value of coins when two hundred and forty sterling coins weighed one pound.

The first gourde was introduced in 1813, replacing the French colonial currency. The Dominican peso has been an official currency of the Dominican Republic since 2011, but it was introduced in 1844 when the Dominican Republic took back its sovereignty from Haiti. The British pound sterling is generally recognized as the oldest continuously used currency, with origins dating back to around 775 AD. Ancient currencies have successfully integrated modern technologies like electronic payments, digital banking, and cryptocurrency innovations while maintaining their fundamental monetary functions.

Today, it’s not only the official currency of the United States but also a benchmark for global markets, stabilising economies worldwide as the predominant vehicle for international trade and reserves. Every country has its own currency, and some have been around for a very long time. The Japanese currency known as “yen” originated back in 1871, after the modernization of Japan which is known as Meiji Restoration.

• The yen (JPY) was introduced officially in 1871, following the Meiji Restoration, replacing the Edo period’s complex monetary system.
• Other relatively new currencies include the Euro, which was first issued in 1999 and widespread issued in 2002.
• As long as world trade continues, the concept of money will always be here and will continue to evolve and adapt to human needs.
• Over the centuries, the pound withstood countless economic, political, and technological changes, including the rise and fall of the British Empire.
• Today, the pound remains one of the world’s strongest currencies, serving as the cornerstone of the UK’s economy for over 1,200 years.
• Innovation and adaptation is a contributing factor in ensuring a currency’s long-term sustainability.

The Russian Ruble can be traced to the 13th century, originally existing as a piece of a silver ingot. The word “ruble” stems from the Russian verb meaning “to chop”, referring to its origins as a chopped-off segment of a silver bar. Used throughout the Russian principalities, the rise of the Tsardom of Russia shaped the ruble. It became the first decimal currency in the world in 1704 under Peter the Great. Adopted as the official currency, it became the foundation of global finance.

The franc emerged from the need to standardize Switzerland’s complex monetary system, which previously featured numerous regional currencies. The Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848 gave the federal government exclusive right to issue money, leading to the creation of a unified national currency. The yuan’s resilience stems from China’s continuous political structure and the government’s active role in monetary policy. Despite numerous dynastic changes and political upheavals, the underlying Chinese approach to currency has maintained consistent characteristics across centuries.

UK Short Sterling

In this article, we will take a brief look at economic history to explore the top 10 ancient currencies that have survived the relentless march of monetary change. Surprisingly, the British sterling is the world’s oldest currency still used in the world, in the United Kingdom to be precise, dating back to 1222 years ago. The central unit of sterling is a pound, hence the nickname, and has the £ symbol, which derives from the Latin word meaning libra. Today, Serbia has a range of denominations and historically important people and cultural monuments on the face of the banknotes. The United States dollar was introduced on April 2, 1792, when the US Congress passed the Coinage Act and switched from continental currency and pound sterling to the dollar.

How to trade on the world’s oldest currency

Throughout its long history, the pound has survived the Norman Conquest, the Industrial Revolution, two world wars, and the transition from the gold standard to fiat currency. The Bank of England, established in 1694, helped stabilize the currency and establish London as a global financial center. The newest currency in the world is the South Sudanese pound, which was made official in June 2011. Other relatively new currencies include the Euro, which was first issued in 1999 and widespread issued in 2002. Despite this, it has quickly become one of the world’s strongest currencies​. The Serbian Dinar traces its roots to 1214, inspired by the Roman denarius and first established under the reign of Stefan the First-Crowned.

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From the British pound sterling to the Chinese yuan some of the world’s oldest currencies continue to facilitate trade and commerce centuries after their creation. Understanding their origins and survival strategies offers valuable insights into economic stability and the factors that allow monetary systems to thrive across generations. British sterling is the fourth most-traded currency in the world, right after the United States dollar, the Japanese yen, and the euro. The first British pound sterling notes were issued in 1694, handwritten as paper money. While the Portuguese escudo was replaced by the euro in 2002, its history traces back to medieval times, creating a longstanding monetary tradition. Today, the euro acts as Portugal’s currency, but the escudo remains a symbol of national heritage.

For instance, the word “franc” originated from “Francorvm Rex”—the French King’s title, and “thaler” that inspired the word “dollar”, was named after the silver-rich region of Sankt Joachimsthal. There was a time when the ruble wasn’t in circulation, but today is one of the main currencies in oil and natural gas trades. After introducing different denominations, Russia made one ruble worth 1,000 old rubles in 1998. Haitian gourde had a few revaluations, the first in 1870 with the introduction of new G10 and G25 denominations. The second was in 1870, when the gourde was linked to the French franc for an easier valuation. Peso is available in denominations of $1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000.

The British Pound Sterling holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest currency still in active use. Its origins trace back to around 775 AD, making it more than 1,200 years old. The £2 coin was launched in 1986 to commemorate the 13th Commonwealth Games held in Scotland that year. The six coins, from the 1p through to the 50p, can be pieced together to form the Royal Shield. Morocco—a country located in Northwest Africa—is also regarded as a country with the oldest currency still circulating. Named after the ancient Greek dharma currency, Moroccan dirham was formally launched in 1882 as part of a new coinage system, along with the rial and mazuna.

The British pound is both the oldest and one of the most traded currencies​ in the world. It is currently the fourth most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the US dollar (USD), euro (EUR) and Japanese yen (JPY). Its history dates back over 4,000 years, with early forms of standardized coinage used during the Mahajanapada period around 6th Century BCE. The modern rupee was adopted as a unified currency in the early 19th century under British rule, inspired by Indian and international monetary traditions. Today, the Indian rupee symbolizes a thriving economy and a continuity of ancient trade practices.

This list highlights how some of the world’s oldest currencies have successfully adapted and persisted through centuries of change, wars, and economic shifts. Their continued circulation not only reflects stability but also embodies the deep-rooted history of their respective nations. The currency was distinguished by its similarity to Venetian grossos, sometimes causing diplomatic tensions, and Dante even referenced Serbian coins in his works. The dinar underwent several transformations, especially during Ottoman rule, and was reintroduced in the 19th century as a symbol of modern Serbian statehood.

With yen officially in circulation, traditional transaction instruments such as clan notes and paper money issued by feudal lords were no longer accepted, according to Britannica. Some of the most traded currencies are the United States dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, Australian dollar, and Swiss franc. Many factors affect the exchange rates, such as inflation, public debt, economic health, and balance of trades, as well as the history and the revaluations of the currencies. The world’s oldest currencies demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability.

This combination of governmental authority, monetary policy independence, and sturdy financial infrastructure secures the Pound’s durability. The British Pound Sterling is one of the prime examples of a currency that thrives due to its economy and governmental stability. The pound’s stability is boosted by the Bank’s control over banknote issuance and its floating currency policy since 1971, allowing market forces to set its value.