The most stable currency for centuries. Which currency is the most reliable in the world? Norwegian and Swedish krona, Australian dollar

What do you think is the most valuable currency in the world today?

Most believe that the British pound is the most expensive currency, however, as it turns out, this is not the case.

Especially for blog readers, we have compiled a list of the most powerful currencies in the world (as of January 13, 2019).

So, the most expensive currency in the world...

No.1 – Kuwait Dinar (1 KWD = 3.29 USD)

Currency code – KWD

1 KWD = 3.29 USD
1 KWD = 220.603 RUB

Kuwaiti dinar - the most expensive currency in the world against the dollar and Russian ruble.

Kuwait is a small country with enormous wealth. The high value of its currency is explained by the significant export of petroleum products to the world market.

No.2 – Bahrain Dinar (2.65 USD)

Currency code – BHD

1 BHD = 2.65 USD
1 BHD = 177.25 RUB

The Bahraini dinar is the second most valuable currency in the world.

Bahrain is an island state in the Persian Gulf with a population of just over 1 million people. As in the first case, the main source of income for this country is the export of black gold.

Interestingly, the Bahraini dinar is pegged to the dollar, and for the past 14 years, its value relative to the dollar has not changed.

No.3 – Oman Rial (2.60 USD)

Currency code – OMR

1 OMR = 2.60 USD
1 BHD = 177.25 RUB

Oman is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. Thanks to its strategic location, it has a developed economy and high level life.

The Omani rial, like the Bahraini dinar, is pegged to the dollar.

Interestingly, the purchasing power of this currency is so high that the government has to issue paper notes in denominations of 1/2 and 1/4 rials. In the picture above you can see 1/2 rial.

No.4 – Jordan Dinar (1.41 USD)

Currency code – JOD

1 JOD = 1.41 USD
1 JOD = 94.25 RUB

It is quite difficult to explain the high value of the Jordanian dinar, since the country is not particularly developed economically and lacks important resources such as oil. However, 1 Jordanian dinar costs about $1.41, making it one of the 10 most expensive currencies in the world.

No.5 – British Pound (1.26 USD)

Currency code – GBP

1 GBP = 1.26 USD
1 GBP = 85.25 RUB

It is the British pound that everyone considers the most expensive currency in the world, but as it turns out, it is only in 5th place.

By the way, the British colonies issue their own banknotes, which are visually different from the banknotes issued by the Bank of England, but are quoted 1 to 1.

So, there are also: Scottish, Northern Irish, Manx, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar pounds, as well as the St. Helena pound and the Falkland Islands pound.

It's funny, but native Britons don't always want to accept "other" pounds as payment.

No.6 – Cayman Islands Dollar (1.20 USD)

Currency code – KYD

1 KYD = 1.20 USD
1 KYD = 81.25 RUB

The Cayman Islands are one of the world's top tax havens. These islands have given power to hundreds of banks, hedge funds and insurance companies.

In particular, due to its leadership among tax havens, the Cayman Islands dollar is worth about US$1.22.

No.7 – European Euro (1.14 USD)

Currency code – EUR

1 EUR = 1.14 USD
1 EUR = 76.34 RUB

Even though the Euro currency has lost about 20% of its value over the past year, it is still one of the strongest currencies in the world.

Part of its strength comes from the fact that it is the official currency of 17 European countries, including several economic heavyweights.

In addition, the Euro is the world's second reserve currency, covering 22.2% of all world savings (for the dollar - 62.3%).

No.8 – Swiss Franc (1.04 USD)

Currency code – CHF

1 CHF = 1.04 USD
1 CHF = 68.05 RUB

Switzerland is not only one of the richest countries in the world, but also one of the most stable. Its banking system is famous for its unwavering "Banking Secrecy".

Moreover, their high-tech products are appreciated all over the world.

Pay attention to the original appearance of this bill. This is the only currency that I have seen that “looks” vertical.

No.9 – US Dollar

Currency code – USD

1 USD = 1.00 USD
1 USD = 66.95 RUB

Due to America's leadership on the world stage, its currency has achieved the title of “world reserve currency.” In other words, you can pay with dollars anywhere in the world.

No.10 – Canadian dollar (0.75 USD)

Currency code – CAD

1 CAD = 0.75 USD
1 CAD = 50.45 RUB

The Canadian dollar is the world's fifth-largest reserve currency. It is often called a "loonie" after the bird featured on the $1 coin.

Dropped out of the top ten

Due to the dynamically changing economic and political situation in the world, it is difficult for a currency to remain in this ranking, so here is a list of currencies that left the top ten in previous periods.

Australian dollar

Currency code – AUD

1 AUD = 0.73 USD
1 AUD = 48.29 RUB

Interestingly, the new range of Australian banknotes, as pictured above, will have a tactile feature (Braille) to help the visually impaired community identify the denomination of the note.

Also in Australia, the fight against “cash” is being waged by reducing the share of cash payments when making small retail purchases.

Libyan Dinar

Currency code – LYD

1 LYD = 0.72 USD
1 LYD = 47.44 RUB

The Libyan dinar has tokens called dirhams. Interestingly, one dinar is equal to 1000 dirhams, and not 100, as we used to think.

Azerbaijani manat

Currency code – AZN

1 AZN = 0.59 USD
1 AZN = 39.25 RUB

It is, of course, surprising to see the Azerbaijani manat on this list, but the currency of this Middle Eastern country is only slightly cheaper than the US dollar.
But despite what you might think, the local economy is actually quite strong and its unemployment rate is low.

Is a high currency value a sign of a strong economy?

It is known that the currencies of not particularly successful countries tend to decrease in value. However, when the economy is doing well, we are unlikely to see the opposite effect.

Indeed, in practice, there were practically no cases when the value of a currency constantly increased. The reasons may be different, but generally speaking, the state itself does not benefit from the constant strengthening of the currency, because the population begins to actively save money instead of spending it.

Thus, the high value of the currency only indicates that inflationary processes in the country are under control.

In the context of this article, mention should also be made of Japan and its one of the strongest economies in the world. At the same time, the value of the Japanese yen is very small, $1 = ¥109.77.

Information about the highest value currencies is unlikely to be used by investors to make any investment decisions. In this case, it is better to consider the most stable currencies.

By the way, did you know that you cannot use images of banknotes without the inscription “SPECIMEN”? Let's learn to obey the laws, comrades!

Each country has its own national currency in circulation. The list of currencies of the countries of the world is very wide. However, it can be divided into several main groups. So, for example, there is a currency of European countries, African countries, North and South America, and Asian countries, Australia and Oceania. In addition, the list of world currencies can be divided into two categories: the most expensive and the cheapest monetary units.

What affects the value of a currency

One of the most important indicators affecting the value of a currency is the presence of a strong and well-developed economy. It must inspire confidence among partners and investors who will invest in government securities. In addition, the availability of minerals and their export by the country has a great influence.

If you carefully study the rating list of currencies of the countries of the world, you will see that the most powerful and expensive are the banknotes of the Arab Peninsula. But, despite this, this currency is of little interest to other countries. This is due to the fact that it directly depends on oil. And this natural resource may run out at a certain time. Accordingly, the income of the exporting country will also fall.

Why is the price of currency falling?

The currency of Vietnam is the dong. The name of this monetary unit is translated as “copper” or “bronze”. But, despite this name, the banknotes themselves are made of special water-repellent paper. This makes them more wear-resistant.

The dobra should be placed in third place on this list of world currencies. The dobra is the currency used in circulation in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. The economy of this state is based on tourism and the cultivation of coffee and cocoa.

In fourth position is the familiar Belarusian ruble. It is often called a “bunny”.

The fifth position in the list of the cheapest currencies in the world is occupied by the rupiah, which is used in Indonesia. In the local dialect, the currency is called "perak". And here's her official name was taken from

Freely convertible currencies

Some of the most popular currencies accepted for circulation all over the world are the dollar and the euro. But, despite all its popularity, these monetary units are approximately in the middle of the list of the most expensive banknotes in the world. At the same time, the euro is slightly ahead of its counterpart in terms of conversion.

These currencies are reserve currencies for the whole world, thanks to the most stable and developed economies of their countries.

A complete list of the names of the currencies of the world can be found on the official websites of companies that are engaged in the purchase/sale, as well as currency exchange.

We hold these small pieces of paper in our hands every day. They give us access to any product or service. But the question is: how much or how little can money buy?

A person, as a rule, usually does not talk about the cost of banknotes, but about the price of the product itself. In fact, the value of money becomes known after comparing it with the money of other countries. There are currently about 180 currencies in the world. What is the most expensive currency? Many are ready to assume that the euro, or, in extreme cases, the British pound sterling. Actually this is not true. Experts regularly compile ratings of the most expensive money and, in particular, their value in relation to the ruble. It should be noted that every year the leadership is held by the same ones.

Leading currency

Meanwhile, the top positions in the ranking are occupied by money from oil-producing countries in the Middle East. By the way, they plan to unite and create their own single currency, which will be akin to the euro. But the value of such money remains a mystery, given the fact that, for example, in Kuwait, every fifteenth resident is a millionaire.

The most expensive currency “smells” of oil

So, the most expensive currency in the world is the Kuwaiti dinar (currency code - 414, letter code KWD). For one such money you can get 88.59 rubles (as of April 1, 2008) or 3.75 dollars. By the way, in the relatively distant year 1984, one Kuwaiti dinar cost 2.79 rubles or 3.28 US dollars. That is, the banknotes have held the leadership for more than a dozen years.

The Kuwaiti dinar came into circulation in 1961. Then it replaced the Indian rupee. Kuwait revalued its currency in 2006 by 1 percent against the dollar. Therefore, the exchange rate of the American currency fell to 0.29 dinars per unit. But already in mid-2007, the Kuwaiti dinar exchange rate was not pegged to the dollar, which was replaced by a multicurrency basket.

Bahraini Dinar

Another currency on the list of the most expensive is the Bahraini dinar (currency code BD or BHD). In 1966-1973, this money was the national currency of the United Nations United Arab Emirates. They were then replaced by the UAE dirham.

The Bahraini dinar entered the market in 1965 and then replaced the Gulf rupee. This dinar was pegged to the US dollar in 1987. And in relation to other world currencies, in particular the Russian ruble, the Bahraini dinar fluctuates along with the dollar. The cost of the currency is 62.36 rubles.

Omani rial

This is the monetary unit of the state called Oman. The international currency designation is OMR. By the way, on banknotes you can find an inscription in English on one side and in Arabic on the other.

The coins were put into circulation without an English designation. The money of this state will cost Russians 61.08 rubles.

Latvian lats

The Latvian armor circulated on the territory of Latvia from 1922 to 1940. And then it came into circulation only in 1993, after the state gained independence. After the Maltese lira and the Cypriot pound were replaced by the euro, the Latvian lat became what is called the “heaviest” currency of the European Union. At the beginning of 2009, the pound sterling was 15 rubles lower than the lat.

GBP

This is the UK currency. Currency code – UKL or GBP. It is worth noting that banks in individual territories that are part of the country issue banknotes with their own designs. And formally, every banknote is accepted by all UK banks.

Which currency can you trust?

The name pound sterling was finally assigned to the currency in 1694. At that time, the Bank of England had just issued the first money. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the pound sterling was the main reserve currency in almost all countries. But after World War II, the pound lost its status as the most significant currency. This happened after the money of the United States of America began to dominate the world economy. However, in 2006, the pound sterling again became the third most common reserve currency. Banknotes have gained particular popularity in last years. Their price is 53.21 rubles per unit.

But further down in price are the so-called Special Drawing Rights (code - XDR). This is an artificial reserve and payment instrument that is issued by the IMF. It has only a non-cash form - entries in bank accounts. No banknotes were issued. In addition, the SDR has a limited scope of use; it circulates only within the IMF and is used to repay IMF loans, replenish reserves, regulate balances and cover balance of payments deficits. Special drawing rights appeared in 1696. Now the cost is 38.69 rubles. The XDR rate is now published daily. It is determined based on the dollar price of a basket of 4 leading world currencies: the yen, pound sterling, euro and US dollar. But the weight of currencies in the basket is reviewed every five years.

Euro

The official currency of the European Union countries is the euro. It operates on the territory of 17 EU countries. In 2006, about 610 billion euros were in cash circulation. This helped the currency become the owner of the highest total price of cash that circulated around the world.

The euro has outperformed the US dollar. The euro appeared in non-cash payments in 1999, and in cash in 2002. Cash euros have replaced national currencies in 17 EU countries out of 27. One euro is equal to approximately 40 rubles.

Jordanian Dina

The Jordanian Dina (code JD or JOD) is the currency of Jordan. Each banknote and coin depicts a royal dynasty. Money is signed in Arabic and English languages. In 1949, the currency replaced the Palestinian pound. The cost today is more than 30 rubles per unit.

Azerbaijani manat

This is the official currency of Azerbaijan. He was subject to denomination twice - first in 1992, then in 2006. The design of the banknotes was developed by the Austrian Roberto Calino, who also worked on modern design Euro. The coins therefore resemble EU currency. The price of a monetary unit is less than 30 rubles.

Ghanaian cedi

This currency was introduced in 1965 in Ghana. Its international designation is GHC, C. By the way, for quite a long time Ghana did not have its own currency. The country circulated money that was brought from neighboring countries.

After the influx of foreigners into the country and the beginning of tourism development, they needed their own money. The Ghanaian pound was introduced in 1958, after which it was changed to the cedi in 1965. This currency went through reforms in 1972 and 2007. The last time the reason was inflation. The denomination removed the four zeros from the cedi.
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It is no secret that residents of some countries - including oil exporters from the Arab Peninsula - may not work, receiving subsidies from the state that are enough for them to live. It is believed that these countries have the most expensive currency in the world.

The main reasons for the existence of strong currencies:

The country has rich natural resources and exports them;

The state has a strong economy that has been established for centuries and inspires confidence; predictable economic results are important for investors who invest in currencies (securities of strong countries);

The country's currency is strictly pegged to another currency.

If you look at the leaders in the ranking of the most expensive currencies, exporting countries from the Arab Peninsula have a clear advantage. However, the currencies of these countries are practically uninteresting to others. Everyone understands: when oil runs out (or there is a transition to cheaper and more accessible energy resources), then the income of oil countries will dry up.

In the middle of the ranking of “leaders” are the most popular currencies in the world: dollar, euro, Swiss franc and pound sterling. The economies of the countries issuing these currencies are diversified and stable (they can withstand even financial crises) and therefore they are the world's reserve currencies. Their cost is determined by the developed economy and demand for them.

The top ten leaders have remained virtually unchanged; from time to time the Azerbaijani manat (AZN, 1 AZN = $0.61 or 39.58 rubles) is included in it.

1. Kuwaiti dinar. The most expensive currency in the world. Kuwait is a small monarchical country on the shores of the Persian Gulf with huge raw materials reserves of oil and gas. The name dinar comes from the name of an ancient Roman coin that was in circulation throughout the Roman Empire, including the Roman provinces of the Middle East. The Kuwaiti dinar was introduced into circulation on April 1, 1996, following the declaration of Kuwait's independence from British influence.

2. Bahraini dinar. The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island state with a monarchical form of government. The word "Bahrain" is translated from Arabic as "two seas". Over the past 15 years, the Bahraini dinar has been tightly pegged to the US dollar, and its exchange rate has fluctuated depending on the exchange rate of the American currency.

3. Omani rial. The Sultanate of Oman, one of the oldest states in the world, its name comes from the dynasty of the first sheikhs who ruled the people of this territory since the 7th century and originated from the prophet Muhammad. The name of the Omani rial comes from the name of the coins of the Arab Caliphate. One Omani rial is divided into 1000 baiza. The name of the coin “baiza” comes from the ancient Arabic language and means “to divide”, “to dismember” and “to separate”. The Omani rial is pegged to the US dollar.

4. Jordanian dinar. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an Arab monarchical state in the Middle East. The name of the country comes from the name of the Jordan River and the ruling monarchical dynasty in the country - the Hashemites. Jordan is considered a fairly developed and economically strong state in the Arab world and the Middle East, which bases its economy on mining and agriculture, but it lags far behind the three countries mentioned above. But for many years the Jordanian currency has been pegged to the US dollar. And this partly explains such a high place of the rial in the ranking.

5. Pound sterling. It is one of the seven most popular currencies in the world. This official currency Great Britain, but is also widely used in a number of former colonies of the British Empire. Previously, the ancient English silver coin was called sterling. Banknotes first appeared in 1694. By the way, their pounds are issued separately by the Bank of England, the Bank of Scotland, the Bank of Wales and the Bank Northern Ireland. As well as other entities that are part of the United Kingdom. They are all slightly different in design, but true Britons like to only accept the “real” ones issued by the Bank of England.

In terms of participation in financial turnover, the pound is in third place after the euro and the American dollar. It is often used as a “safe haven” during crises. Although, recent events with Brexit have shown that the pound can also be in a fever. But he survived.

6. Cayman Islands dollar. The Cayman Islands are a British territory located on the islands of the same name in the Caribbean Sea. The name of the islands was given by the Spaniards, who confused the iguanas that inhabited the islands in abundance with caiman crocodiles. Today, the Cayman Islands is one of the most popular offshores with liberal tax laws, which attracts investments and capital. Since the principle of any offshore is that anyone wishing to register a company there must become a co-owner local resident(for a fee), it is not surprising that the standard of living of Cayman residents is one of the highest in the world. Other economic features of the islands include tourism and turtle farming.

As soon as the Cayman dollar was introduced into circulation in 1972, it was immediately pegged to the pound sterling. And this is the second reason for the high value of this currency.

7. Euro. The currency of 17 countries that are part of the Eurozone (not to be confused with the European Union), as well as nine countries that are not part of the Eurozone. The euro was introduced in 1999, and since January 2002, banknotes and coins have been introduced into cash circulation. Now the currency is so popular that it shares primacy with the American dollar in total cash value (in terms of actual value, the euro has long surpassed the “American”).

In each Eurozone country, Central Banks have the right to mint their own banknotes and coins, so you should not be surprised when euros of the same denomination appear in your wallet, but with differences in design. By the way, scammers like to take advantage of this.

By the way, the situation with the expensive euro greatly worries European countries: in a developing economy, they would prefer to have a weaker currency, which would increase the competitiveness of their goods. And, by the way, now the euro is somewhat losing its position, although it is still worth more than the dollar.

8. Swiss franc. Switzerland is not only one of the richest countries in the world, but also one of the most stable. And although recently the concept of “banking secrecy” has somewhat lost its meaning, the banking system of this country is one of the strongest.

The name of the currency is borrowed from France, which is explained by its long political and economic influence on Switzerland in the Middle Ages. In everyday life of traders, the Swiss currency is also called “Swissie”.

Swiss franc banknotes have a vertical image, rather than a horizontal one, like everyone else. By the way, other countries are now borrowing this unique feature, for example, in Russia, commemorative banknotes in honor of the Olympics in Sochi, Crimea and Sevastopol were vertical.

9. American dollar. It is rightfully considered the most popular currency in the world. More than half of payments for goods and services are made in it (for example, it is in dollars that payments are made in oil markets). Before World War II, the leading currency was the British pound, but America, which had boosted its economy, as well as the abolition of currencies pegged to gold and silver, made the dollar the “world reserve currency.” You can pay with it not only in the USA, but also in almost all countries of the world (especially in the countries of Southeast Asia popular with tourists).

10. Libyan dinar. National currency state of Libya. In recent years, the country has been plagued by political and civil conflicts, but being in a rich oil region saves this country from ruin.

The Libyan dinar has been pegged to the IMF currency, SDR (Special Drawing Rights), since 1999.

Every year the world economy changes, and the economies of individual countries also change, so the rating of currencies in 2015 differs from this year. We present to you a list of the eight most expensive currencies in the world in 2016.

In the top, the US dollar is given the last eighth position in terms of value. But from the point of view of demand and its use as a world reserve currency, the US dollar occupies the most significant role.
The rating uses the conversion of each currency into dollars.

As a result of a transaction between Saudi Arabia and the United States in 1973, the concept of “petrodollars” was born in the world. And in 1975, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries adopted the US dollar as the only currency for purchasing oil, which created a strong demand for USD.

7. Swiss franc

1 CHF = 1.02795 USD
Switzerland is a banking haven country and has a very strong economy. The Swiss franc is very popular as a primary savings currency. The average monthly salary in Switzerland is $9,374.

6. Euro

1 EUR = 1.12940 USD
The well-known currency of the Eurozone, the euro has recently been experiencing many different economic and political problems.

5. Jordanian dinar

1 JOD = 1.41283 USD
The average monthly salary in Jordan is about $2,700.

4. British pound

1 GBP = 1.44754 USD
The British pound as a currency gained its strength during the colonial era and is still one of the main units of account for savings accounts. The average monthly salary in England is $6,785.

3. Omani rial

1 OMR = 2.59963 USD
The average monthly salary of $4,100 can convince many to work in Oman.

2. Bahraini dinar

1 BHD = 2.65625 USD
Bahrain occupies a strategic position in the world that facilitates the development of international trade. With the development of the economy and industry, the economy of Bahrain has become perhaps the strongest and most stable in the region. The average monthly salary in the country is about $3,500.

1 KWD = 3.35086 USD
Kuwait's currency is the most valuable in the world, and the country benefits from a booming oil-based economy. The average salary in the country is $3,650 per month.