2016-03-08 Tue

8th March is celebrated as the International Women’s Day and on this occasion let’s break the stereotype and get to know the influential women of the world who adorn the Banknotes!

While UK has recently decided to put women on their banknotes, the USA has only their Founding Fathers and former presidents, Chinese notes have Mao Zedong and Indian have Mahatma Gandhi.

It turns out England and the U.S. are way behind the rest of the world. Many countries have honoured important women by putting suffragists, poets, and even revolutionary martyrs on their bills. Australia even has a businesswoman from the 19th century featured on a dollar.



Here is the list of the countries that have powerful influential women on their banknotes:



• Australia has an equal number of men and women on its banknotes; each one has a male on one side and a woman on the other.

• Norway and Denmark currently have women on their banknotes.

• Mexican 500 Peso note features painter Frida Kahlo.

• Argentina has former First Lady, Eva Peron on their 2 peso and 100 peso notes.

• Scientist Marie Curie appeared on Polish 20,000 zloty in 80s and 90s and on French 500 francs along with her husband.

• Golda Meir, Israeli Prime Minister adorns the 10 shekel notes.

• Australian 100 dollar note has Opera star Dame Nellie Melba.

• Corazon Aquino, the president of Philippines appears on the country’s 500 peso banknotes.

• Germany had Clara Schumann, a famous pianist and composer on their 100 Deutschmark banknotes.

• Educator, Maria Montessori featured on the 1000 Lire banknotes of Italy.

• Martha Washington appeared on $1 silver certificates and till date remains the only one to feature on US currency.



Women are not known to appear on banknotes of most of the countries. However a call for an attempt to recognise and value their contribution has arisen and we have a few countries that are redesigning their banknotes to introduce their historical female leaders on banknotes.

• In a first, the UK in 2013 announced that Winston Churchill would be replaced by Elizabeth Fry - a social reformer and philanthropist - on the £5 note and the legendary author Jane Austen would adorn the £10 note from 2017.

• A new line of Swedish notes, to be introduced in 2015 and 2016, will feature three women - actress Greta Garbo, Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren, and opera singer Birgit Nilsson.



To all the women out there:

Happy Women’s Day!

Happy Collecting!