Spirit Money: Bank notes from Hell

[mitresh]

The featured notes includes denomination of 1 Billion, 500 million and 10 Thousand.

Hell Notes are a highly fascinating and enjoyable aspect of collecting paper. The design is highly creative and the spiritual connection inspiring. The printing and paper quality is usually not that good.

The front of the note usually shows the Jade Emperor who is the ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell. The swan indicates spirits winging their way to after life while the dragon, in Chinese mythology, stands for the 4 powers of nature - Earth, Water, Wind (Air), and Fire.

For more info on Hell money, see below link to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_money

[malj1]

Poor quality paper is used as most get burned anyway!

We have an existing thread on these Hell bank notes. I have just one, like that in reply 12 there.

[mitresh]

Thanks for the thread Malcolm. I never saw Hell notes before in USD or Pound as mine do not indicate any currency denomination and came direct from China via a swap.

[Manzikert]

I have quite a few of these as well as the 'gold ingots', cheque books and even passports for Hell.

When I was in Vietnam a few years ago (visiting my wife's family) I saw full size cars and (relatively miniature) houses which were intended to be burnt at funerals. I attach a Vietnamese note denominated in Dong.

The oldest of these notes I've ever seen is the one below, dated September 1927 and denominated in 'National Currency' Chinese dollars. I would assume that older Chinese style 'notes' must exist though.

The highest 'denomination' I have found so far is 80 billion but the highest I have a scan of at the moment is just 800 million

Alan