The Art of Money: The History and Design of Paper Currency from Around the World

L’argent. Dinero. Geld. Dough.

Whatever you call it, money makes the world go round. The United States is dispensing its first redesigned bills in decades, and the Euro is on the brink of unifying European notes. It’s the perfect time for this visual tour of the world’s currencies. The various people, places, animals, and historical events depicted on money reflect how countries see themselves—and how they want the rest of world to see them.

Author David Standish begins with a brief, fascinating history of currency, and then presents a striking gallery of international bills from more than 80 countries that corner the market on visual flair. The cast of characters on these small canvases is vast—from the Little Prince on French currency to the furry denizens of the rainforest of Madagascar to the obscure Salmon P. Chase, Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State, on the $10,000 US note (did you know that the US Secret Service originated with Lincoln’s efforts to curb counterfeiting during the Civil War?).

The Art of Money is an entertaining and lustrous tour of cash for design aficionados, history buffs, travelers, and everybody who handles money (or dreams of handling more).