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/www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/01/c_139411893.htm">Brunei confirmed</a> it would no longer issue its 10,000 bill (worth USD $7,424)</li></ul>Although the European Union never had particularly large currency bills, even they <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/html/index.en.html">ceased issuing</a> the Euro 500 note in 2019.Contrast this now with Switzerland. According to the <a href="https://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/cash">Swiss National Bank</a>, whose statistics I cite throughout this article, there is a bit over 90 billion worth of Swiss Franc currency in circulation.Considering our population is just 8.7 million, this means that we have more than 10,000 Francs in cash for every person in the country.<ul><li>The majority of all this cash (about 53%) comes in the form of those wonderful 1,000 Swiss Franc notes.</li><li>And most of the rest is in the form of 200 Franc and 100 Franc notes each of whose value exceeds the highest-value currency most people will ever use.</li></ul><figure id="99d1"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*YJ47lAf36fzpME8fVVAXBw.jpeg"><figcaption>They are handsome bills, no doubt — Images courtesy <a href="https://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/cash/series9/design_series9/id/cash_series9_design">SNB</a></figcaption></figure>The rest of the world has made a concerted effort to eliminate high-denomination currency bills. Ostensibly, this is to help in the fight against crimes like money laundering.Skeptics

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and civil libertarians might observe that criminals have long since turned to cryptocurrency and that less cash means fewer opportunities for tax avoidance and easier central bank control of interest rates.<h2 id="bfd3">From this, we can conclude three things</h2><ol><li>Swiss people love cash more than they love paying taxes</li><li>The Swiss are willing to tell the whole world to go F — themselves</li><li>It’s good to have godparents if you’re a Swiss kid</li></ol><figure id="f796"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*9IoYctHkgDhUNAuLDB4K2g.jpeg"><figcaption>5 Rappen coin, the only gold-colored one — Image courtesy <a href="https://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/cash/id/cash_coins#t2">SNB</a></figcaption></figure>I’ve seen it play out in person. Over the years, I have<ul><li>Had holes formed in suit pockets from the weight of those heavy coins</li><li>Carried briefcases stuffed with cash to meetings</li><li>Bought and sold vehicles for cash</li><li>Learned never to agree to become a godparent to a colleague’s child</li></ul>I hope you learned something today as well.If you let me know in the comments how this made your life better, there might be some cash in it for you (or me, but that’s almost the same thing).Be well.It’s not just the 5 Rappen coin that’s golden, my other stories are as well. <a href="https://medium.com/@james.bellerjeau/subscribe">Sign up here</a> to make sure you get yours while they last!</article></body>

Switzerland is a Paradise for Cash Lovers

The Swiss use cash for everything; the currency in circulation shows it

**The Swiss Franc is a weighty currency** — Images courtesy SNB

If you’ve ever seen a kindly old woman line up at the bank window to withdraw 15,000 in cash to give to her godchildren, you either know Grandma Smillew or you’ve spent time in Switzerland.

Depending on the time of year, she’s likely to be taking this money in the form of a tidy sheaf of 1,000 Franc bills.

Each of these is currently worth USD $1,111 or Euro 1,030. That’s a lot of value in a single bill. It’s by far the largest denomination bill in circulation in the world today.

**Mille Grazie! | The Swiss 1,000 Franc bill** — Image by James Bellerjeau

There used to be higher-value banknotes in circulation, all of which fell to concerns of aiding criminality and money laundering.

In 2014, Singapore discontinued its SGD $10,000 note (worth USD $7,444)
In 2020, Brunei confirmed it would no longer issue its 10,000 bill (worth USD $7,424)

Although the European Union never had particularly large currency bills, even they ceased issuing the Euro 500 note in 2019.

Contrast this now with Switzerland. According to the Swiss National Bank, whose statistics I cite throughout this article, there is a bit over 90 billion worth of Swiss Franc currency in circulation.

Considering our population is just 8.7 million, this means that we have more than 10,000 Francs in cash for every person in the country.

The majority of all this cash (about 53%) comes in the form of those wonderful 1,000 Swiss Franc notes.
And most of the rest is in the form of 200 Franc and 100 Franc notes each of whose value exceeds the highest-value currency most people will ever use.

**They are handsome bills, no doubt** — Images courtesy SNB

The rest of the world has made a concerted effort to eliminate high-denomination currency bills. Ostensibly, this is to help in the fight against crimes like money laundering.

Skeptics and civil libertarians might observe that criminals have long since turned to cryptocurrency and that less cash means fewer opportunities for tax avoidance and easier central bank control of interest rates.

From this, we can conclude three things

Swiss people love cash more than they love paying taxes
The Swiss are willing to tell the whole world to go F — themselves
It’s good to have godparents if you’re a Swiss kid

**5 Rappen coin, the only gold-colored one** — Image courtesy SNB

I’ve seen it play out in person. Over the years, I have

Had holes formed in suit pockets from the weight of those heavy coins
Carried briefcases stuffed with cash to meetings
Bought and sold vehicles for cash
Learned never to agree to become a godparent to a colleague’s child

I hope you learned something today as well.

If you let me know in the comments how this made your life better, there might be some cash in it for you (or me, but that’s almost the same thing).

Be well.

It’s not just the 5 Rappen coin that’s golden, my other stories are as well. Sign up here to make sure you get yours while they last!