Banknotes lie at the heart of our exchanges and interactions. Circulating for more than 350 years now, we cannot imagine our world without them. Even though their imagery is often ignored thanks to their largely economic role, their typography demands prime attention.

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The modern banknote owes it origins to the invention of the movable type printing press by Gutenberg in the 12th century. The first modern banknote was issued almost 500 years later in 1668 in Sweden. The humble origins of the modern printing press are duly acknowledged and well represented on Iceland’s 50-Kroner with two block printers in the foreground and a wallpaper of the metallic blocks ornamenting the background. Typography plays a primary and essential role on banknotes, sometimes very obvious in its depiction and in other instances rather complex and hidden. Its uses and applications are varied and noteworthy as this paper reveals.   

 

Typography as information. Typography as calligraphy. Typography as art. Typography as security. Typography as design.

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Banknote canvases offer great opportunity to showcase typography as information, calligraphy, art, design and security.

 

This first of its kind, unique research will explore and present typography in various contexts and its innovative applications, its similarities and differences and its evolution on the everyday banknotes that we all use around the world.