4. Monopoly Money vs Real Money

The world's best selling board game, Monopoly, has been played by millions for over a century. Players trade with Monopoly Money that range from $1 to $1,000. More Monopoly Money is printed per year than real currency in the U.S.

In 2011, The U.S printed approximately $453 million worth of currency with an average cost of 9.1 cents per note using 8.5 tonnes of ink per day!

5. Money, born today, gone tomorrow

Which department decides on the birth and death of notes?

In the U.S, The Federal Reserve uses a machine called the 'Banknote Processing System 3000' that rapidly sorts through notes for tears, limpness, graffiti etc. The machine is built by, no surprise, the Germans at a firm called Giesecke & Devrient.

In India, notes received from banks and currency chests are examined by The Reserve Bank of India, which then estimates the quantity of notes likely to be needed and places orders with various presses. To keep pace with the rapidly growing economy, India has been importing over two billion rupee coins to supplement the supply of coins from four Indian mints.