Comments on: Zimbabwe currency on eBay http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 03:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: zuzu http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248065 zuzu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248065 <blockquote>Sort of like the 17 people in the US who still support President Bush.</blockquote>There's less of them, so they <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=176741" rel="nofollow">ride the shorter bus</a>. <blockquote>The kicker? That was the legal maximum I could take out of the country in currency.</blockquote>i.e. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_controls" rel="nofollow">price controls</a> on the exchange rate.

Sort of like the 17 people in the US who still support President Bush.

There’s less of them, so they ride the shorter bus.

The kicker? That was the legal maximum I could take out of the country in currency.

i.e. price controls on the exchange rate.

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248067 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248067 "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." Mao. “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Mao.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248069 bardfinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248069 I notice it has an /expiration date/. It would be comical if it were not so tragic, and yet my brain continues to chant The Greatest Hits of Mike Myers' most famous catchphrases: One hundred BILLION ... GET IN MAH BELLEH ... I notice it has an /expiration date/.

It would be comical if it were not so tragic, and yet my brain continues to chant The Greatest Hits of Mike Myers’ most famous catchphrases:

One hundred BILLION …

GET IN MAH BELLEH …

]]> By: morcheeba http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248077 morcheeba Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248077 @unusual - thanks for the link. Here's the historical trend over the last week: 07/24/2008 33288144660 07/25/2008 33288144660 07/26/2008 46735456570 07/27/2008 49063000000 07/28/2008 49063000000 07/29/2008 54209000000 07/30/2008 54217199510 60% inflation per week!! That's 0.3% per hour!! That means that a USD$10 lunch inflates Z$451,000 every second you wait! @unusual – thanks for the link. Here’s the historical trend over the last week:

07/24/2008 33288144660
07/25/2008 33288144660
07/26/2008 46735456570
07/27/2008 49063000000
07/28/2008 49063000000
07/29/2008 54209000000
07/30/2008 54217199510

60% inflation per week!! That’s 0.3% per hour!! That means that a USD$10 lunch inflates Z$451,000 every second you wait!

]]> By: Deb Geisler http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248087 Deb Geisler Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248087 They still have a way to go to beat the post-WW II hyperinflation currency of Hungary. My husband bought one of the notes, which was 100 million <i>billion</i> pengÅ‘...and the Hungarian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_money_of_the_Hungarian_peng%C5%91" rel="nofollow">hyperinflation trend (with currency photos) is documented at Wikipedia.</a> Alas, the note only shows 100 million in decimal...but the "b-pengÅ‘" stood for "billion." They still have a way to go to beat the post-WW II hyperinflation currency of Hungary. My husband bought one of the notes, which was 100 million billion pengÅ‘…and the Hungarian hyperinflation trend (with currency photos) is documented at Wikipedia.

Alas, the note only shows 100 million in decimal…but the “b-pengÅ‘” stood for “billion.”

]]> By: bluemilkshake http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248091 bluemilkshake Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248091 Good to know this isn’t massively tasteless or anything ;) Good to know this isn’t massively tasteless or anything ;)

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248616 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248616 Ahhhhh, the "New" bills are now being sold on eBay. Very pretty. Ahhhhh, the “New” bills are now being sold on eBay. Very pretty.

]]> By: Linds http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248362 Linds Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248362 Andigopow a part of recovery from hyperinflation is always to issue a new currency worth tens or hundreds of times what the old currency was worth. So your note with lots of zeroes would stay worthless Andigopow a part of recovery from hyperinflation is always to issue a new currency worth tens or hundreds of times what the old currency was worth. So your note with lots of zeroes would stay worthless

]]> By: error404 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248386 error404 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248386 firstly, Mugabe is meant to have tertiary stage syphillis and is clinically insane from the spirochetes in his spinal fluid. Secondly he revalued the Z$ by knocking a few zeros off the value today, so a billion is now a million. And thinks this is sound economic practice....see my first point. Thirdly there will be no investment in Zimbabwe while Bob and the rest of the cronies in ZanuPF are in power, even if they pretend to share power with Morgan's lot. Beacuase they seized billions of dollar, that's US ones BTW, in property from it's white owners, gave it away to his gaggle of war vets and expected them to feed the nation. Theft of property is not looked on as a good bet by external investors.Who knows when Bob might blow a valce and keep your stuff. Really he needs to pull an Amin and leg it to soem complicit state and spend his untold Zillions of Z$s. Should be able to get a coffee, maybe even a grande. firstly, Mugabe is meant to have tertiary stage syphillis and is clinically insane from the spirochetes in his spinal fluid.

Secondly he revalued the Z$ by knocking a few zeros off the value today, so a billion is now a million.

And thinks this is sound economic practice….see my first point.

Thirdly there will be no investment in Zimbabwe while Bob and the rest of the cronies in ZanuPF are in power, even if they pretend to share power with Morgan’s lot. Beacuase they seized billions of dollar, that’s US ones BTW, in property from it’s white owners, gave it away to his gaggle of war vets and expected them to feed the nation.

Theft of property is not looked on as a good bet by external investors.Who knows when Bob might blow a valce and keep your stuff.

Really he needs to pull an Amin and leg it to soem complicit state and spend his untold Zillions of Z$s.

Should be able to get a coffee, maybe even a grande.

]]> By: Jesse in Japan http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248408 Jesse in Japan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248408 That's cool how the note has the issue date down to the actual date. That’s cool how the note has the issue date down to the actual date.

]]> By: Chris S http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248925 Chris S Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248925 So, then, read this little gem about Zimbabwe running out of paper imports, and attempting to ramp up the country's paper mill. And in order to do <i>that</i> they have to drill a hole bunch of new wells to get enough water. And this all assumes that the software they need to design and print each new bill doesn't get the licence pulled. http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/19639 It's almost like reading the Onion - but more than a little scary because they don't have to make this stuff up. So, then, read this little gem about Zimbabwe running out of paper imports, and attempting to ramp up the country’s paper mill. And in order to do that they have to drill a hole bunch of new wells to get enough water. And this all assumes that the software they need to design and print each new bill doesn’t get the licence pulled.

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/19639

It’s almost like reading the Onion – but more than a little scary because they don’t have to make this stuff up.

]]> By: mikelotus http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248158 mikelotus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248158 its currently worth 1.94 AUS $. shows there is still plenty of ebay suckers. in a month they will be almost giving them away its currently worth 1.94 AUS $. shows there is still plenty of ebay suckers. in a month they will be almost giving them away

]]> By: Sork http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-252300 Sork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-252300 Now I see what the scam is about these Nigeria letters. They offer the million dollar pay-back in Zimbabwe dollars... Now I see what the scam is about these Nigeria letters. They offer the million dollar pay-back in Zimbabwe dollars…

]]> By: Adam Backstrom http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248471 Adam Backstrom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248471 Here's one of two bills I purchased on eBay years ago for $18: http://static.bwerp.net/~adam/2007/06/19/dinara.jpg Here’s one of two bills I purchased on eBay years ago for $18:

http://static.bwerp.net/~adam/2007/06/19/dinara.jpg

]]> By: andigopow http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248222 andigopow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248222 So, let's say everything in The Zim finally rights itself and the economy gets back on track and all is wonderful - even in thirty to forty years. Wouldn't it be a plus to have that extra $100,000,000,000? Or is the economy so effed now that there're all of these sorts of notes flooding the market? So, let’s say everything in The Zim finally rights itself and the economy gets back on track and all is wonderful – even in thirty to forty years. Wouldn’t it be a plus to have that extra $100,000,000,000? Or is the economy so effed now that there’re all of these sorts of notes flooding the market?

]]> By: Linds http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248482 Linds Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248482 the expiry date is just scary the expiry date is just scary

]]> By: pinguis http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248745 pinguis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248745 @ #7 MRBUG Walter Jonh Williams "The Green Leopard Plague" deals with a more or less BTU based currency. (Not exactly, but the full story is kind of spoliery :) One of the best short SF, i read in the last years. Available <a href="http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_0406/greenleopards.shtml" rel="nofollow">here:</a> @ #7 MRBUG

Walter Jonh Williams “The Green Leopard Plague” deals with a more or less BTU based currency.
(Not exactly, but the full story is kind of spoliery :)

One of the best short SF, i read in the last years.

Available here:

]]> By: schr0559 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248238 schr0559 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248238 Zimbabwe announced that it is knocking 10 zeros off its currency: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008067808_apzimbabwe.html I'd give it three months before those zeros make it back onto the new note series... Zimbabwe announced that it is knocking 10 zeros off its currency:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008067808_apzimbabwe.html

I’d give it three months before those zeros make it back onto the new note series…

]]> By: Keeper of the Lantern http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-247990 Keeper of the Lantern Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-247990 For some odd reason I'm hearing Dr Evil's voice in my head as I read "One hundred BILLION dollars". For some odd reason I’m hearing Dr Evil’s voice in my head as I read “One hundred BILLION dollars”.

]]> By: Dread Pirate Robert http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-247992 Dread Pirate Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-247992 Hey, that's one way out of the currency crisis. $87 AU is WAY more than what that note is really worth. I've got an old 200,000,000 mark note from the German currency crisis 80 years ago, but this sure tops it. Hey, that’s one way out of the currency crisis. $87 AU is WAY more than what that note is really worth.

I’ve got an old 200,000,000 mark note from the German currency crisis 80 years ago, but this sure tops it.

]]> By: Bitgod http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248506 Bitgod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248506 Awesome! When I heard they were printing these, I wanted one. I just hope I don't get scammed by a Nigerian. Awesome! When I heard they were printing these, I wanted one. I just hope I don’t get scammed by a Nigerian.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-247995 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-247995 As of five days ago, it wouldn't be enough to buy you lunch in Harare. As of five days ago, it wouldn’t be enough to buy you lunch in Harare.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248252 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248252 I wonder if those South African surgeons that operated on the Mugabe swine really understand or care how many they sentenced to death by not cutting his throat on the table? I wonder if those South African surgeons that operated on the Mugabe swine really understand or care how many they sentenced to death by not cutting his throat on the table?

]]> By: Steaming Pile http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248010 Steaming Pile Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248010 They should just use bundles of banknotes as currency based on their heat value. I'm sure they burn nicely in stoves, power plants, and fireplaces. They should just use bundles of banknotes as currency based on their heat value. I’m sure they burn nicely in stoves, power plants, and fireplaces.

]]> By: The Unusual Suspect http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248014 The Unusual Suspect Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248014 As of today (Wednesday, July 30, 15:45 ET), 1 US Dollar = 54,217,199,510 Zimbabwe Dollars according to Oanda.com. So why don't we just pass the hat and buy them a decent government? Oh, right. We don't have one to spare. As of today (Wednesday, July 30, 15:45 ET), 1 US Dollar = 54,217,199,510 Zimbabwe Dollars according to Oanda.com.

So why don’t we just pass the hat and buy them a decent government?

Oh, right. We don’t have one to spare.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248270 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248270 Many African currencies have not been through a revaluation phase in decades, so they have a ridiculous amount of zeroes at the end. Given that many of these nations (and, therefore, their economies) have been around for less than 50 years, this is one of those things you might just expect. Ghana, for example, just lopped off 4 zeroes from their money (actually, without devaluing it) ostensibly to make trade easier. The problem now is keeping track of prices offered in the street markets. Did you mean 1 cedi or 10,000 cedis? Let's not forget how the World Bank/IMF set the stage for the kinds of situations we are seeing in developing nations right now. Sure, it's funny, but there are real people behind all those zeroes. Ironically, the CAPTCHA for this comment is "$100,000". Many African currencies have not been through a revaluation phase in decades, so they have a ridiculous amount of zeroes at the end. Given that many of these nations (and, therefore, their economies) have been around for less than 50 years, this is one of those things you might just expect.

Ghana, for example, just lopped off 4 zeroes from their money (actually, without devaluing it) ostensibly to make trade easier. The problem now is keeping track of prices offered in the street markets. Did you mean 1 cedi or 10,000 cedis?

Let’s not forget how the World Bank/IMF set the stage for the kinds of situations we are seeing in developing nations right now. Sure, it’s funny, but there are real people behind all those zeroes.

Ironically, the CAPTCHA for this comment is “$100,000″.

]]> By: dacker http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248017 dacker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248017 Given the projected FY2009 US budget deficit (which does not include the wars in Iraq and Afganastan, and other cleverly omitted large expenses) announced later this week, maybe we just need to collect a half-dozen of these and mail them to GWB! Like others, "Dr. Evil's voice...! Given the projected FY2009 US budget deficit (which does not include the wars in Iraq and Afganastan, and other cleverly omitted large expenses) announced later this week, maybe we just need to collect a half-dozen of these and mail them to GWB!

Like others, “Dr. Evil’s voice…!

]]> By: MrsBug http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248023 MrsBug Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248023 I can't believe Mugabe isn't ashamed to have something like this printed. Sheesh. #4 - I like it. A currency's value based on the BTUs it produces! I can’t believe Mugabe isn’t ashamed to have something like this printed. Sheesh.

#4 – I like it. A currency’s value based on the BTUs it produces!

]]> By: phillamb168 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248033 phillamb168 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248033 #7, #4 if that's the case I declare Sodium (the metal, not Salt) to be the official currency of phillambia. Only trouble is, we're an island nation... #7, #4 if that’s the case I declare Sodium (the metal, not Salt) to be the official currency of phillambia. Only trouble is, we’re an island nation…

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/30/zimbabwe-currency-on.html#comment-248035 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-248035 The latest: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/30/world/main4306447.shtml. It seems that the new exchange is $10B old dollars for one new. Having to figure things out in billion and trillions was freaking out the computers and calculators. The latest: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/30/world/main4306447.shtml. It seems that the new exchange is $10B old dollars for one new. Having to figure things out in billion and trillions was freaking out the computers and calculators.

]]>