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Money TalksÌý

A nation’s currency reflects its society, not just its economics, and design changesÌýcan signal social progress.Ìý

In 2020, for instance, the United States Mint plans to reveal designs for the firstÌýbills in more than a century to show a woman and the first ever to show anÌýAfrican American. Harriet Tubman, once a slave, will replace Andrew Jackson,Ìýthe slave-owning seventh U.S. president, on the front of the $20 bill. RedesignedÌý$10 and $5 notes also will incorporate women.Ìý

Other currency updates clearly broadcast awful times. Take the 500 million markÌýReichsbanknote from the CU Heritage Center’s collections (pictured above). IssuedÌýby the Weimar Republic in 1923, it reflected runaway inflation in post-World War IÌýGermany, which aided the rise of Adolf Hitler.Ìý

The bill, which possibly belonged to CU President George Norlin, wouldn’t haveÌýbought much: By November 1923 a loaf of bread in Germany cost 200 billion marks.ÌýSo there was a 100 trillion mark note, too.Ìý

The Heritage Center’s small but varied currency collection also includes anÌýAmerican Revolution-era $30 bill and a $50 Confederate States of America bill (bothÌýpictured). They may be viewed in person by appointment with the curator.

Photos courtesy CU Heritage CenterÌý