During Roman times, there was a period when a denarius was worth about a day’s wages. By today’s numbers, the quotient of silver contained in a denarius is worth about $3.62. That may not seem like much, but as it turns out, $3.62 in value held a lot more weight several thousand years ago.
Hyperinflation has led to a difference in values. What’s interesting about the Denarius today, however, is that it is worth much more than the $3.62 in silver, depending. Check this Google shopping page out. Some of those coins will go for $900+ today. What has changed? Would anyone say a day’s wages in Roman times was worth $900 by today’s reckoning?
Historicity is the determinate factor. Coin quality is also a big part of that, but because of the nature of antiquity, the historical value of a denarius can make it much more valuable. It’s out of print. Authentic versions of this coin can’t be found in today’s world. A denarius today is an heirloom. It’s a piece of history. It’s an artifact.
Time has increased the value of the coin. As it turns out, this force is still in play when it comes to modern forms of currency that are out of print, or otherwise difficult to find.
Zimbabwe Trillions
According to BankNoteWorld.com, Zimbabwe dollars represent some of the most unique antiquated currencies that were ever printed: “With 14 zeros, the 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar bill has the most number of zeroes to ever be printed on a single note.”
Additionally, there were only a few million copies of this bill ever printed; and they are quickly disappearing. If you don’t know where to find one, you’ll have trouble getting it. You can get them for around $80 today. What will be the value of such a piece of history in twenty or thirty years? It could double, triple, quadruple, or more.
Certainly varying factors will determine value. If you’re smart, though, you could end up making more on your investment through such a coin than you would have expected. When currencies are in constant flux because of poor decisions on the part of the government, it can be a wise choice to invest in tangential means of asset preservation.
Inflation and deflation will continue to change the value of fiat currency. This is why things like gold, silver, property, antiquities, and art carry the value they do. Jewelry is in that category as well. Beyond being a novelty, Zimbabwe bills represent an asset preservation method that can help you diversify your ability to retain finances. And, at the very least, it’s a conversation piece.
There is no shortage of incompetence in government, and at the very least the 100 trillion dollar Zimbabwe note demonstrates how world leaders can sometimes make decisions which spin countries out of control. This note is a piece of history, and right now you can still find it without too much difficulty on the web. It might be worthwhile to look into.
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