Learning about various countries, particularly through their currency, may be super fascinating. So many countries have their currency, and what they choose to put on it can reveal a lot about their values and culture.
Every currency has a storey to tell. Consider the United States currency; entire television series and film plots have been constructed around theories based on the imagery of US cash, yet foreign countries do not have such hidden symbolism in their currency. For example, Tire Meets Road reported on a Cambodian 500-riel note that shows an attractive little Nissan crossover instead of a strange mix of Egyptian, Masonic, or nationalistic symbols.
On the other side of the banknote, a Nissan Juke is pictured crossing a bridge over the Mekong River. While Tire Meets Road notes a Camry in the same image, it appears to be a Toyota Vios, which is also available in the country. This note version was introduced in 2014, four years after the Nissan Juke was introduced. A hatchback and a box truck also travel across the bridge in the distance.
The 500-riel banknote has not previously featured Japanese automakers. Instead, older notes depict agricultural scenery, while others depict various vehicles crossing the river.
Cambodia may have cool paper currency in the form of late-model vehicles, but they are far from the only one in this area. Some Australian banknotes are waterproof and brightly coloured, making counterfeiting practically impossible.
On some pieces of South African currency, there are realistic representations of the country’s five most popular animals and Nelson Mandela. The Canadians chose vertical bills, while the Cook Islands chose rich imagery featuring a woman and a shark from traditions about the country’s history.