
This is the definition of inflation! The one hundred trillion dollar note has been one of my biggest selling notes for several reasons. Many people who buy Zimbabwean currency love to hear the story behind the history of the notes, so I figured I will share with all of you as well! There are 103 notes in the Zimbabwe set. (See my blog post Zimbabwe Banknotes. The Complete Listing from 1 Cent to 100 Trillion Dollars for a catalog of all available Zimbabwe banknotes). Can you believe at one time they started with a 1 cent note?!?
The 1 cent note was released in 2006 as well as a 5¢, 10¢ and 50¢ note. Could you imagine having a one cent note? What could you buy?!! I think it is fascinating!! Before these cent notes were put in circulation there were bearer cheques that were used.
Other notes in this series included:$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100.
Then came: $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $50,000, $100,000, $200,000, $250,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1,000,000.
After 1 million came: 5 million,10 million, 25 million, 50 million, 100 million, 250 million, 500 million, 1 billion, 5 billion, 25 billion, 50 billion, and 100 billion.
This is the part of the story where the government took a step back and said, “whoa, hang on what is going on here!?” They decided to scrap the whole lot and start all over again. So in 2007 they created a new set starting with the “new” one dollar bill:
This new (and most famous) series included: $1, $5, $10, $20, $100, $500 $1,000 $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000, $500,000, $1,000,000.
Then you have:10 million, 50 million, 100 million, 200 million, 500 million, 1 billion, 5 billion, 10 billion, 20 billion, 50 billion, 10 trillion, 20 trillion, 50 trillion and of course the 100 trillion dollars!
Again after this inflation was causing mad chaos the government again thought okay, “lets scrap this idea and start over.” After all a billion dollars probably wouldn’t have bought you a carton of eggs! This was the again “new” one dollar bill the fourth one dollar note to be introduced to Zimbabwe, basically removing 12 zero’s from the 100 trillion and making it now equal to $1.
This 2009 series included: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $500. After the issuing of the $500 note, however, the Zimbabwean government gave up for a while and abandoned their currency and primarily used the U.S dollar or the South African rand. In 2016 they started issuing a new series but only got 2 notes in ($2 and $5) and and decided it wasn’t working so they stopped producing notes until 2019.
This new series (2019/2020) includes the $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
I have my collection of Zimbabwe notes available to see and purchase on my web site.
I love the rare history behind these amazing notes, think about the people in Zimbabwe who were being paid every day in trillions of dollars and by the next day their money was worth only half what it was the night before. It’s actually very sad to think about. These next picture are not my own but ones that I found online and wanted to share, to show how severe the inflation situation was.
I think these pictures have their own stories to tell.



Hi
If I buy 100 billion zimbabwe dollar and lets assume in few years time zimbabwe economy improves and 1 Z$ = 1usd, then will i really become a billionaire.
Haha thats a good point..but i think that time this dollar no longer accepted
No, one of the many unintended consequences of the countries land reforms in 2000 is abandoning the issuing of it’s own currency.
Hi Bob,
I think you may have to wait for 100 trillions years for the 1Z$ = 1US$.
Your chance of winning the $1 million lottery, getting struck by lighting and attacked by grizzly bear in the same day is about 1000 times higher.
yea probley
I have a collection of ALL the banknotes that where used in Zimbabwe. If you want them contact me.
lieng, so ure trying to say that ure just buying the zim dollar note so as to tell history in future – l think there is something behind…..
Greetings.. Is there anyone who can tell about where the 100 T Zim nite was printed?. the special bond paper and the deal behind it?. Which Country haf the original template to print it and why?. Im greatful for any good answer.