Oldest Currenics in year#Naomi #Deebo #Bianca #WWEChamber #FUkraine #Alexa #Norway #Vermont #Tennessee #AngieStone #Loan #NATO pic.twitter.com/oSxS1HAlO8
— facting (@facting182168) March 2, 2025
The Russian ruble watched Genghis Khan’s grandsons ride past. The Swiss franc saw both World Wars. The Canadian dollar? Born with maple syrup in its veins.
I dug into 700+ years of monetary history. Here’s what survives – and why.
The Survival Hall of Fame (1300-1871)
🇷🇺 Russian Ruble (1300): Survived Ivan the Terrible, Lenin, Putin. 1 ruble in 1300 = 0.0000001 Bitcoin today.
🇭🇹 Haitian Gourde (1813): Outlasted 43 coups. Now worth 1/100th of a US penny. Still printed in French and Creole.
🇨🇭 Swiss Franc (1850): Lost only 93% value since inception. Everyone else? 99%+.
3 Reasons These Currencies Didn’t Die
- Brutal pragmatism: USSR kept ruble to control dissent. Canada needed dollars to avoid US annexation.
- Colonial hangover: Falkland Pounds (1833) exist because Britain refuses to lose territory.
- Sheer stubbornness: Japan’s yen (1871) survived nukes, inflation, and Godzilla movies.
“Why Should I Care About Ancient Money?” (FAQs)
Could the US dollar disappear like older currencies?
Yes. 94% of historic currencies died. Average lifespan: 27 years. USD’s 239-year run? Miracle.
Why isn’t the British pound on this list?
Modern GBP dates to 1971. Pre-decimalization shillings = different beast.
Actionable Takeaways for Modern Investors
- Diversify: 7/8 currencies here became toilet paper. Own real assets (land, gold, Bitcoin).
- Study collapses: Dominican peso (1844) hyperinflated 12 times. Patterns repeat.
- Bet on stability: Swiss francs still beat 97% of fiat currencies long-term.
Currency history, fiat survival rates, hyperinflation examples, oldest money, monetary stability
