When it's talked about Money When it comes to valuation, many people think of the dollar, the pound or the euro, but there is one particular banknote that is considered the most valuable in the world, surpassing all of these currencies.
We're talking about one rare banknote that costs more than R$ 16 million. Have you ever imagined carrying it in your wallet as if you didn't want anything or as if it was something simple and everyday?
This banknote is a currency that is no longer in circulation and does not function as a medium of exchange in the current market. It belongs to the North American Grand Watermelon coin, created and considered in the 19th century a rarity.
The note was sold at auction in January 2014 for the paltry sum of $3.29 million, which is about R$16.3 million at the direct price.
A rare banknote is extremely valuable
Example of a 19th Century Grand Watermelon Banknote Photo: Reproduction
At another auction in 2018, a Grand Watermelon note was sold for $2.04 million, or around R$10.1 million. This only reinforces the valuable character of Banknotes. This auction took place in Baltimore, Maryland.
The name “Grand Watermelon” was chosen because of the large zeros that denote the value of the banknote and, according to authorities at the time, refer to the size of the watermelon fruit, meaning “watermelon” in English.
To give you an idea of the rarity of these banknotes, today there are only seven Grand Watermelon banknotes in the world, of which only three remain with private individuals and not with a governmentaffiliated entity.
As far as we know, the others are part of the permanent collection US.
The Grand Watermelon note features the image of Union General George Meade, known as the commander of the American forces who emerged victorious at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
His picture was taken by Charles Burt of the US Treasury Department.