What is the Worlds Oldest Currency Still in Use? 2025

Before that, following tradeallcrypto broker info its establishment in 1694, the Bank of England only issued partially printed notes with the ‘£’ sign as well as the first digit. The numbers had to be added by hand and each note had to be signed by one of the bank’s cashiers. Ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 yen, yen as the national currency of Japan featured prominent cultural figures on their banknotes.

Visit our CMC GBP Index instrument page for more details of constituents, weightings and costs. This acted as protection against forgery during the Second World War, when the British economy was under threat. Each bank note (£5, £10, £20, £50) has its own colour and size – the greater the value, the larger the note. All coins (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2) carry the profile of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right.

A Look at the Oldest Currencies Still in Use Today

It was standardized in the 8th century and officially adopted as currency during the reign of King Offa of Mercia in the late 8th century. 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. The pound sterling is one of the most traded currencies in the world, along with the US dollar, Japanese yen, euro 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. It’s impossible to think about living today without any form of money or currency, no matter where you reside. Currency is present in every country in the world, and it’s a medium of foreign exchange market for services, goods, and information issued by the national governments. The world’s oldest currencies demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability. Their survival through wars, economic crises, technological revolutions, and political upheavals shows that well-managed monetary systems can maintain relevance across centuries.

The yen’s adoption marked a move towards modernization, but the currency’s design and some denomination concepts reflect centuries of Japanese monetary history. The Bank of England introduced a new 12-sided £1 coin on 28 March 2017, and the previous £1 coin lost its legal tender status at midnight on 15 October 2017. A new polymer £5 note was issued in September 2016 and paper £5 notes were withdrawn. Plastic £10 notes were also issued in September 2017 and £20 notes have been following since February 2020.

Dominican peso

For example, Murasaki Shikibu—the author of “The Tale of Genji” on the 2,000 yen bill, Hideyo Noguchi on the 1,000 yen bill, and Fukuzawa Yukichi on the 10,000 yen bill. About 3000 years after the barter form of trade existed, the first forms of currencies invented in early China and Europe were coins. The emergence of banks switched the currency production from coins to bank notes to enable easy storage and transportation. The Chinese monetary system boasts an incredibly long history, with various forms of currency dating back over 3,000 years.

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The Haitian gourde is one of the oldest currencies in the world, introduced in 1813. At that time, the gourde was introduced as the legal tender in place of the livre, a symbolic gesture that represented Haiti’s transition from a French colony to an independent nation. Its creation was inspired by the Spanish dollar and now serves as the international reserve currency. CFR revealed that the U.S. dollar’s dominance in global trade is attributable to several factors, including its stable value and the U.S. robust economy.

U.S. Dollar

Money and currency are sometimes used interchangeably but Investopedia clearly and distinctly defines money and currency as having different meanings.
The emergence of banks switched the currency production from coins to bank notes to enable easy storage and transportation.
Banknotes have always had the United States presidents on the face of the dollar bills, and the only woman ever depicted was Martha Washington, the former First Lady.
It is currently the fourth most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the US dollar (USD), euro (EUR) and Japanese yen (JPY).
The table below shows some of the most popular crosses using GBP as both the base and quote currency, along with our spreads and prices.
Other countries to use a version of the pound sterling include Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, and St. Helena.

The history of the Swiss franc dates back to 1850, before which people used fat men, horses, or cornutos as a medium of exchange, as revealed by the Swiss National Museum. It is worth mentioning that the term “franc” was adopted from French coins that were named after the French king’s title “King of the Franks,» FRANCORVM REX. According to Visual Capitalist, the British pound, often referred to as “sterling”, is regarded as the oldest currency in the world. The pound’s official adoption as the currency of the United Kingdom occurred in 1707, marking the unification of England and Scotland into a single country. Later on, Virtual currencies which exist electronically without the need for banks or regulatory authority were introduced.

Their stories offer valuable lessons about monetary policy, economic management, and the importance of institutional strength in maintaining public confidence.
In simpler terms, money is described in numbers while the basic form of currency is paper banknotes, coins, or plastic cards like credit or debit cards.
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.
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.

The Soviet ruble operated under a completely different framework than the imperial ruble, yet maintained continuity of name and basic function. 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 modern yuan (renminbi) represents the latest evolution of this ancient financial tradition. The British pound is used only as a national currency in the United Kingdom and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. Other countries to use a version of the pound sterling include Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, and St. Helena.

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. The first gourde was introduced in 1813, replacing the French colonial currency. The ruble has been in circulation since the 13th century, making it one of the oldest currencies in the world. The exchange rate of the ruble is often influenced by global oil prices and economic sanctions. Ancient currencies have successfully integrated modern technologies like electronic payments, digital banking, and cryptocurrency innovations while maintaining their fundamental monetary functions. The modern Russian ruble, introduced in 1993 following the Soviet Union’s collapse, continues this long tradition while operating within contemporary global financial markets.

Arguably, the pound may outlast the euro, as Europe has seen many recent political instabilities (such as Brexit) that has threatened to potentially tear the eurozone single currency apart. Read on to discover which is the world’s oldest currency still in use and how it can be traded across the world, as part of a currency pair, forex index or Short Sterling contract. Next up, is a pretty well-known currency used widely around the world, that is the United States Dollar.

The British pound is the world’s oldest currency still in use at around 1,200 years old. Dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, the pound has gone through many changes before evolving into the currency we recognise today. The Thailand baht’s value plummeted to around 56 baht per dollar due to the Asian Financial Crisis back in 1997. Since then, baht has been commonly traded between 25 to 35 baht per U.S dollar. According to the Swiss National Museum, exchanging foreign coins, a fat man or even a horse was allowed as a transaction method.

Russian Ruble

Egypt’s currency, the Egyptian pound (EGP), officially appeared in its current form in 1958 but has origins dating back to the 19th century. Its roots are intertwined with ancient Egyptian trade and currency practices, including barter and early standardized coinage. Today, the pound remains vital in the Middle East and North Africa, representing a legacy of economic resilience.

Since 2011, millions of people have used Remitly to send money with peace of mind. However, currencies that have survived for centuries have demonstrated resilience and adaptability that can contribute to ongoing stability. The Russian ruble has one of the most tumultuous histories among surviving currencies. First mentioned in the 13th century, the ruble has endured the Mongol invasion, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the modern Russian Federation. The British Pound Sterling holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest currency still in active use.

The currency was created during the Anglo-Saxon period, when silver pennies were first minted in what is now England. Switzerland’s political stability, strong banking sector, and conservative fiscal policies have protected the franc from the volatility that affects many other currencies. The Swiss National Bank’s careful management and the country’s strong economy contribute to the franc’s enduring strength. You can also trade on baskets of currency pairs with our exclusive forex index instruments, which includes the CMC GBP Index. This contains a group of currency pairs which share the same base currency, the pound sterling, giving you exposure to multiple currencies vs the pound in one single position.