Citi Money Gallery Education Programme Money and Economics Image Bank Bimetallic £2 coin. Great Britain, AD 1997 Museum number: CM 1999-6-6-1 Supported by Citi

Cowrie shells from China. Shang and Zhou dynasty, 16th-8th century BC Cowrie shells from China. Shang and Zhou dynasty, 16th-8th century BC. The earliest money in China. Museum number: CM 1952-10-29-24

Great Ming Circulating Treasure Note from China Great Ming Circulating Treasure Note from China. Ming dynasty, first issued AD 1375. Museum number: CM 1942-8-5-1

Pieces of eight. Potosi, Bolivia, AD 1589-1598 Pieces of eight. Potosi, Bolivia, AD 1589-1598. The eight reales coin, or 'piece of eight', was the most common silver coin of late sixteenth and seventeenth century Spain. As trade became a global activity for the first time, it became the international currency. Museum number: CM 1920,0907.382

Coin spiral display of the national currency of UN recognised countries. The coins spiral alphabetically by country from the centre to the outer edge of the display panel. There are 192 coins in total, with one space representing South Sudan, which issues banknotes but is yet to issue coins, following its independence in 2011.

Handwritten cheque for an account with Abraham Fowler, goldsmith Handwritten cheque for an account with Abraham Fowler, goldsmith. London, England, AD 1725. An early example of personal banking. Museum number: CM 1980-11-30-811

Money box in the shape of a television Money box in the shape of a television. Burma (Myanmar), 20th century AD. Museum number: CM 1999-6-7-1

Gold bars with assayers' stamps Gold bars with assayers' stamps. Roman, late 4th century AD found in Egypt and Romania. Museum number: CM 1894-12-7-1

500,000,000,000 dinar note. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, AD 1993 500,000,000,000 dinar note. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, AD 1993. Economic crisis in the Balkans. Museum number: CM 1999-9-1-10

South Sea annuities certificate. England, 1730-1790 South Sea annuities certificate. England, 1730-1790. A certificate for £1550 annuities in South Sea Company Stock. Museum number: CIB.54396

Forged £1 note of the Halifax Bank Forged £1 note of the Halifax Bank. Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England, AD 1819. Museum number: CM 1980-11-30-161

Copper coffee house token. Russell Street, London, 1649-1672 Copper coffee house token. Russell Street, London, 1649-1672. Copper coffee house token issued by Timothy Child in Russell Street, London. Museum number: T.3419

Now you have finished… For more information Go to www.britishmuseum.org/money or www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/the-british-museum. All images: © The Trustees of the British Museum