Created in 2002, the Euro is used in 11 different EU nations, and its largest note is the €500, worth just under £420. One of the world’s most widespread currencies is the controversial Euro. Despite an end to its production it still remains legal tender to this day and there are thought to be around 336 $10,000 notes still in existence, most likely in the hands of collectors. During 1940s and 50s America was known to have a number of high-sum notes in circulation, with a $10,000 floating about until it was discontinued in 1969.

Over the years the United States have been known to create some incredible bank notes, at the moment their biggest bank note is the hundred dollar bill, but that was certainly not the case in years gone by. This note is recognised as tender around the world. The second highest value note in current circulation is the CHF (Swiss franc) 1,000, which equates to around £650. This attractive yellow note, adorned with the picture of Encik Yusof- Singapore’s first president, is primarily used for bank-to-bank transactions although it is legal tender so if you somehow came across one you could indeed use it to make a purchase, but only in Singapore. Singapore has the honour of having the most valuable bank note in current circulation, its $10,000 bill, worth a little under £5,000. With that in mind let’s have a look at some of the biggest bank notes known to be created. Countries are often known to create one-off, or extremely limited amounts of, certain high value bank notes for internal matters such as currency support and economic reasons, these notes rarely see the light of day and are usually transferred from the mint to government offices or directly to banks. However, there is air of truth to the creation of seemingly impossibly large bank notes.

Of course, to most people this story must drift into the realm of the ridiculous, clearly a bank note for one million dollars could not be real, in fact for me it evokes fond memories of a classic episode of The Simpsons, where miserly millionaire Mr Burns comes under investigation for stealing a trillion dollar bill that the US government created to give to France back in 1945. The notes in question were not legal tender, and were actually novelty commemorative notes created in America specifically for collectors. One of our latest news items has chronicled the amazing tale of a daring fraudster who attempted to cash in two fake million dollar bills at a bank in the United Arab Emirates.

Largest bank note in the world