Nowadays, with Google images, it’s possible to see money from around the world. Before that, here’s my collection.

American money is actually the most boring – all the same color, same size, different picture of a president in the middle. Unfortunately, the two dollar bill was recalled, although re-issued in 1976. Notice how Egyptian money is bilingual, English and Arabic. This is common in other Arabian countries. The huge numbers of foreigners working in Arabic countries often know some English.

New countries, like Saudi Arabia put their leaders, such as King Abdulaziz. Notice how the English side has an airport, dam, and city. The Arabic side shows a mountain, falaj (human-made cement channels that move water for irrigation) and an off-shore oil-rig.

My first job overseas was in Saudi Arabia, with King Fahd on the money. We teachers were paid in cash. This was so amazing, I photographed part of my salary! I then wired savings home to the States. For some people this created problems: one woman, on returning home, discovered her sister had spent all the money! She reluctantly returned to Saudi to earn needed money. For me, my sister put it into my own bank. Back in 1984, international banking was primitive.

No, I didn’t obtain this from living in Iraq, but from an Iraqi colleague while teaching in Oman. Following is money from Sudan, which I trade for UAE money.

These two pounds are different sizes. Some countries put money in different sizes to emphasize their value. Notice again, although African, the money is in Arabic and English. Following is money from Qatar, a place I never lived or visited.

The following in Hungarian money. I visited a friend there in 1986. This is an old note. The newer note has someone else on it.

Now for the prettiest money!

I had more money in an envelope to scan, but when a person found the envelope, when they stole a lot of Omani money from my home in Ibri, Oman, they took the envelope. I’m surprised I don’t have any photos of UAE, United Arab Emirates money. I lived there for two years.