The 10 Oldest Currencies Still Used Today

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.

• Dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, the pound has gone through many changes before evolving into the currency we recognise today.
• The British pound is used only as a national currency in the United Kingdom and South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.
• Also known as the loonie, the Canadian dollars are minted at the Royal Canadian Mint.
• The Macao pataca is the official currency of Macao (MSAR), backed by the Hong Kong dollar.
• Other countries to use a version of the pound sterling include Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, and St. Helena.
• The Dominican peso has been the official currency of the Dominican Republic since 2011, but it was introduced in 1844 when the Dominican Republic took back its sovereignty from Haiti.

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• The first gourde was introduced in 1813, replacing the French colonial currency.
• 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.
• 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.

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. So with this explanation, this article aims to unveil the earliest currencies that are still in use till date. 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.

Macanese Pataca

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. The currency was created during the Anglo-Saxon period, when silver when genius failed pennies were first minted in what is now England. 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. 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.

Swiss Franc

The British pound, also known as the pound sterling, is the oldest currency still in use. It dates back to around 775 AD, during the Anglo-Saxon period, when silver pennies were first minted in what is now England. The Serbian Dinar has a history stretching back to the early 13th century when it was first minted under the rule of Serbian King Stefan Nemanjić in 1214.

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Its origins date back over 1,200 years to Anglo-Saxon England, around the year 800 AD. Initially based on the weight of a pound of silver, the currency has undergone numerous transformations. Today, the Pound Sterling is synonymous with global financial power and resilience, particularly given the UK’s central role in the global economy during the height of the British Empire.

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. Here are 8 of the world’s oldest currencies that continue to be used today.

The second was in 1870, when the gourde was linked to the French franc for an easier valuation. Our forex indices are a collection of related, strategically-selected pairs, grouped into a single basket. 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. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider.

The oldest currency that is still in use today is the British pound, also known as the pound sterling. The third most-traded currency in the foreign exchange is the Japanese yen, the official national currency of Japan. 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. Today, the forex market, or global market for foreign exchange of national currencies, is one of the largest markets in the world, with over $6.6 trillion in trades every day.

The 8 oldest currencies still in use around the world

The Ruble, Russia’s national currency, traces its roots to the late 13th or early 14th century. The term “ruble” originally referred to a piece of a silver bar that was chopped off, and it became a standard unit of currency in Russia around 1300. The Swiss Franc, one of the world’s most stable and trusted currencies, was officially introduced in 1850. It replaced the numerous local currencies that were in circulation in Switzerland’s various cantons and brought unity to the country’s financial system. The Dominican Peso has been in circulation since the Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti in 1844.

Today, the US dollar is one of the most important currencies in international trade, as the United States had 2.10 trillion dollars in circulation in 2021. 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 pound is the official national currency of Great Britain and the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Falkland Islands. Frequently used banknotes are ¥1,000, 5,000, and 10,000, all carrying historically-important people of Japan on its face.

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). The British Pound, often referred to as “Sterling,” holds the prestigious title of the world’s oldest currency still in use.

Oldest Currencies Still Used Around the World

Originally modelled after the Spanish colonial real, the Peso has undergone various iterations over time, mirroring the nation’s evolving political and economic history. Today, the Dominican Peso is the official currency of the Dominican Republic, representing the country’s vibrant economy and growing role in the Caribbean. Despite its independence in 1833, the Falkland Islands have maintained the pound as their official currency, which is pegged to the pound sterling at the same rate.

The islands’ pound’s first banknotes were issued in 1899, says Banknote World. 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. 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 official currency of the Republic of Haiti is goud or gourde, a French word that means “hard pieces of eight,” a cognate to the Spanish term “gordo” for something fat. Alongside the peso, the United States dollar is also legally used for all monetary transactions. A small number were produced that year because there were already plenty around. In fact, it’s estimated that there were only seven coins produced that year and, due to tradition, three of them were buried in the foundation stones of buildings erected in 1933. More recently, the London 2012 Olympics 50p coins proved to be popular among collectors. More than 70% of them have been taken out of circulation, estimates the Royal Mint.

Swiss Franc (Introduced 1850 AD)

The first banknote featuring the Queen’s portrait was a £1 note issued in 1960. After the British pound, the oldest currencies still used today are the Serbian dinar and the Russian ruble. With a history dating back to 1858, the official currency of Canada is the Canadian dollar, which replaced the previously used Canadian pound. Also known as the loonie, the Canadian dollars are minted at the Royal Canadian Mint. The Macao pataca is the official currency of Macao (MSAR), backed by the Hong Kong dollar.