151+ Interesting Money Trivia Questions You Should Know

Want to test your money smarts? You might think you know much about finances, but there’s always more to learn.

It can be tough to find engaging ways to improve your financial knowledge without getting bored or overwhelmed. That’s where our collection of 151+ fascinating money trivia questions comes in!

From the history of currency to surprising facts about wealth and spending habits worldwide, these questions will challenge what you know and teach you something new.

Whether you’re looking to impress your friends at trivia night or want to expand your understanding of money matters, this list has something for everyone.

Get ready to put your knowledge to the test and have fun while learning with our hand-picked selection of money trivia.

Interesting Money Trivia Questions & Answers

History of Money

What ancient civilization used cowrie shells as a form of currency?
A: Many African and Asian civilizations
In what year was the first paper money introduced in China?
A: Around 700 AD during the Tang Dynasty
Which ancient Greek coin featured an owl, symbolizing wisdom?
A: The Athenian tetradrachm
What was the most common form of money in the Americas before European colonization?
A: Cacao beans
In ancient Mesopotamia, what was used as a form of currency alongside silver and barley?
A: Sheep and goats
What is the oldest currency still in use today?
A: The British pound sterling, introduced in the 8th century
In the 13th century, Kublai Khan introduced what type of currency in China?
A: Paper money
What was the first country to use paper money in Europe?
A: Sweden, in 1661
Which ancient civilization used bronze ingots as a form of currency?
A: The Minoans of Crete
What was the first standardized coin introduced in ancient Lydia (modern-day Turkey)?
A: The electrum stater
Which Roman Emperor debased the silver currency to cover military expenses?
A: Nero, in the 1st century AD
What was the primary form of money in the Inca Empire?
A: Labor, through the mit’a system
In medieval Europe, what type of money was used for high-value transactions?
A: Gold and silver coins
Which Chinese dynasty first used paper money as the predominant form of currency?
A: The Song Dynasty, 960-1279 AD
What was the name of the first paper currency used in colonial America?
A: Continental currency, issued in 1775
Who was the first U.S. President featured on a coin?
A: Abraham Lincoln, on the 1909 Lincoln penny
What was the name of the first central bank in the United States?
A: The First Bank of the United States, established in 1791
Which famous economist advocated for the gold standard in the late 19th century?
A: David Ricardo
In what year did the United States abandon the gold standard?
A: 1971, under President Richard Nixon
Who is known as the “father of modern banking”?
A: Mayer Amschel Rothschild
What was the first country to introduce polymer banknotes?
A: Australia, in 1988
Which ancient civilization used giant stone discs called Rai stones as a form of currency?
A: The Yapese people of Micronesia

Money Around the World

What is the currency of Japan?
A: Japanese yen
Which country uses the rand as its currency?
A: South Africa
What is the currency of Switzerland?
A: Swiss franc
Which country uses the baht as its currency?
A: Thailand
What is the official currency of China?
A: Renminbi (yuan)
Which country uses the won as its currency?
A: South Korea
What is the primary currency used in India?
A: Indian rupee
Which country uses the krone as its currency?
A: Norway, Denmark, and Sweden
What is the official currency of Mexico?
A: Mexican peso
Which country uses the ruble as its currency?
A: Russia
What does the symbol “£” represent?
A: Pound sterling, the currency of the United Kingdom
What does the symbol “¥” represent?
A: Yen, the currency of Japan, or yuan, the currency of China
Which symbol represents the euro?
A: €
What does the symbol “₹” represent?
A: Indian rupee
Which country has the highest-valued currency in the world?
A: Kuwait, with the Kuwaiti dinar
What was the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the British pound in 1990?
A: Approximately £1 = $1.78
In 2000, how many Japanese yen could you get for one U.S. dollar?
A: Approximately 107 yen
What was the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar when the euro was first introduced in 1999?
A: Approximately €1 = $1.18
In 2015, how many Russian rubles could you get for one U.S. dollar?
A: Approximately 60 rubles
Which country has the world’s weakest currency as of 2021?
A: Venezuela, with the Venezuelan bolívar
What is the currency of the smallest country in the world, Vatican City?
A: Vatican City uses the euro
Which country uses the sol as its currency?
A: Peru

Modern Money Facts

What year was the first paper money issued in the United States?
A: 1690, by the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Who is featured on the U.S. $100 bill?
A: Benjamin Franklin
What is the largest denomination of U.S. currency ever printed?
A: $100,000 Gold Certificate, Series 1934
Which country was the first to introduce plastic polymer banknotes?
A: Australia, in 1988
What is the most common material used to make coins?
A: Copper-nickel alloy
Which U.S. coin features the Lincoln Memorial on its reverse side?
A: The penny, minted from 1959 to 2008
What is the name of the first decentralized cryptocurrency, created in 2009?
A: Bitcoin
Who is credited with creating Bitcoin?
A: Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym for an unknown person or group
What is the process of creating new bitcoins called?
A: Mining
Which country was the first to recognize Bitcoin as a legal tender?
A: El Salvador, in 2021
What is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, as of 2023?
A: Ethereum
Which U.S. President is featured on the $20 bill?
A: Andrew Jackson
What is the name of the security thread embedded in U.S. paper currency?
A: The security ribbon
Which country has a maple leaf on its coins?
A: Canada
What is the most expensive coin in the world?
A: The 1933 Double Eagle, a $20 U.S. gold coin
Which U.S. coin features Susan B. Anthony on its obverse side?
A: The Susan B. Anthony dollar, minted from 1979 to 1981 and in 1999
What is the name of the digital currency issued by the Central Bank of The Bahamas?
A: Sand Dollar
Which country was the first to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC)?
A: The Bahamas, with the Sand Dollar in 2020
What is the maximum supply of bitcoins that can ever exist?
A: 21 million bitcoins
Which mobile payment service allows users to send money using email addresses?
A: Google Pay Send, formerly known as Google Wallet
What is the name of Facebook’s proposed digital currency project?
A: Libra, later renamed to Diem
Which country has the highest adoption rate of mobile payments?
A: China, with over 80% of the population using mobile payment apps

Financial Systems and Institutions

What is the central bank of the United States called?
A: The Federal Reserve System, or “The Fed”
In what year was the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) founded?
A: 1792
What does the acronym “FDIC” stand for?
A: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Which U.S. stock market index is known as the “benchmark index” for the U.S. stock market?
A: The S&P 500
What was the highest recorded closing price for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)?
A: 36,799.65 points on January 4, 2022
Which country has the oldest stock exchange in the world?
A: The Netherlands, with the Amsterdam Stock Exchange founded in 1602
What is the name of Japan’s primary stock exchange?
A: The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)
Which European city is known as the “financial capital of Europe”?
A: London
What is the name of the first mutual fund in the United States?
A: The Massachusetts Investors Trust, established in 1924
Which U.S. institution is responsible for printing paper money?
A: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)
What is the primary function of a central bank?
A: To manage a nation’s currency, money supply, and interest rates
Which country has the oldest central bank in the world?
A: Sweden, with the Sveriges Riksbank founded in 1668
What is the name of the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalization?
A: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Which international organization is responsible for promoting global monetary cooperation and financial stability?
A: The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
What is the name of the largest bank in the United States by assets?
A: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Which famous economist is known for his theory of “creative destruction” in capitalist economies?
A: Joseph Schumpeter
What is the term for a rapid and significant decline in stock prices?
A: A stock market crash
Which U.S. financial institution is known as the “lender of last resort”?
A: The Federal Reserve System
What is the name of the investment strategy that involves buying a diverse range of assets to minimize risk?
A: Diversification
Which famous economist wrote the influential book “The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money”?
A: John Maynard Keynes
What is the name of the first credit union in the United States?
A: St. Mary’s Bank, established in 1908
Which U.S. agency is responsible for regulating securities markets?
A: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Personal Finance Trivia

What is the recommended percentage of income to save for retirement?
A: At least 10-15% of your income
Which famous investor is known for his “buy and hold” investment strategy?
A: Warren Buffett
What is the term for the interest charged on a loan?
A: Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Which U.S. President signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act into law in 2005?
A: George W. Bush
What is the name of the tax-advantaged retirement savings account available to U.S. employees?
A: 401(k)
Which famous billionaire investor is known for his “Oracle of Omaha” nickname?
A: Warren Buffett
What is the term for the difference between your assets and liabilities?
A: Net worth
Which U.S. President signed the Credit CARD Act into law in 2009?
A: Barack Obama
What is the maximum contribution limit for a Roth IRA in 2023?
A: $6,500 for individuals under 50, $7,500 for those 50 and older
Who is the richest person in the world as of 2023?
A: Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH
What is the term for a credit score above 800?
A: Exceptional credit score
Which famous billionaire founded Microsoft Corporation?
A: Bill Gates
What is the name of the tax-advantaged health savings account available in the United States?
A: Health Savings Account (HSA)
Who is the youngest self-made billionaire in the world as of 2023?
A: Gary Wang, co-founder of FTX
What is the term for the amount of money borrowed from a lender?
A: Principal
Which famous billionaire investor is known for his philanthropic work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation?
A: Bill Gates
What is the recommended percentage of income to allocate towards housing expenses?
A: No more than 30% of your income
Who was the first person in history to amass a fortune of over $100 billion?
A: Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
What is the term for the financial obligation to repay a loan?
A: Debt
Which famous billionaire is known for his luxurious lifestyle and ownership of the Virgin Group?
A: Richard Branson
What is the name of the tax-advantaged college savings plan in the United States?
A: 529 plan
Who is the richest woman in the world as of 2023?
A: Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, granddaughter of L’Oreal founder

Money in Pop Culture

In the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which real-life stockbroker is portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio?
A: Jordan Belfort
What is the name of the fictional currency used in the “Harry Potter” series?
A: Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts
Which famous rapper wrote the song “Mo Money Mo Problems”?
A: The Notorious B.I.G.
In the TV series “Breaking Bad,” what is the main character’s motivation for turning to a life of crime?
A: To pay for his cancer treatment and provide for his family
Which classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores themes of wealth and excess in the 1920s?
A: “The Great Gatsby”
In the movie “Wall Street,” which famous line is delivered by the character Gordon Gekko?
A: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”
What is the name of the fictional African country in the Marvel “Black Panther” comics and movie, known for its vast wealth?
A: Wakanda
Which popular board game teaches children about money management and real estate investing?
A: Monopoly
In the TV series “Billions,” which actor plays the role of hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod?
A: Damian Lewis
Which classic novel by Charles Dickens features a character named Ebenezer Scrooge?
A: “A Christmas Carol”
In the movie “The Big Short,” which famous actress plays the role of a real-life financial analyst who predicted the 2008 housing market crash?
A: Margot Robbie
Which popular TV series follows a group of friends living in New York City, often discussing their financial struggles?
A: “Friends”
In the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which actor plays the role of a struggling salesman trying to make ends meet?
A: Will Smith
Which famous rapper’s debut album was titled “Get Rich or Die Tryin'”?
A: 50 Cent
In the movie “Boiler Room,” which actor plays the role of a young stockbroker caught up in a fraudulent investment scheme?
A: Giovanni Ribisi
Which popular TV series features a group of con artists who use their skills to take down wealthy criminals?
A: “Leverage”
In the movie “The Founder,” which actor portrays Ray Kroc, the businessman who turned McDonald’s into a global franchise?
A: Michael Keaton
Which classic novel by John Steinbeck tells the story of migrant workers struggling during the Great Depression?
A: “The Grapes of Wrath”
In the TV series “Succession,” which actor plays the role of media mogul Logan Roy?
A: Brian Cox
Which famous musician wrote the song “Money” for the album “The Dark Side of the Moon”?
A: Pink Floyd
In the movie “The Social Network,” which actor portrays Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin?
A: Andrew Garfield
Which popular TV series follows a group of women working in a New York City department store during the 1950s?
A: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Fun Money Facts

What is the most expensive pizza in the world, and how much does it cost?
A: The Louis XIII pizza, which costs $12,000
Which country has the most expensive Big Mac burger, according to The Economist’s Big Mac Index?
A: Switzerland, as of January 2023
What is the most expensive coffee in the world, and how much does it cost per pound?
A: Kopi Luwak, which can cost up to $1,000 per pound
Which famous actress once insured her legs for $2 million?
A: Betty Grable, a popular actress and pin-up model during the 1940s
What is the most expensive car ever sold at auction?
A: A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which sold for $48.4 million in 2018
Which famous musician owns a chain of restaurants called “Wahlburgers”?
A: Mark Wahlberg, along with his brothers Donnie and Paul
What is the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction?
A: A bottle of 1945 Romanee-Conti, which sold for $558,000 in 2018
Which country has the most expensive tea in the world, and how much does it cost per pound?
A: Da Hong Pao tea from China, which can cost up to $1.2 million per pound
What is the most expensive wedding dress ever made, and how much did it cost?
A: The “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur,” which cost $30 million and was adorned with 751 diamonds
Which famous actor purchased a private island in the Bahamas for $3.6 million?
A: Johnny Depp, who bought Little Hall’s Pond Cay in 2004
What is the most expensive ice cream sundae in the world, and how much does it cost?
A: The “Absurdity Sundae” at Three Twins Ice Cream in New York City, which costs $60,000
Which famous rapper owns a stake in the streaming service Tidal?
A: Jay-Z, who acquired Tidal in 2015 for $56 million
What is the most expensive cheese in the world, and how much does it cost per pound?
A: Pule cheese from Serbia, which can cost up to $600 per pound
Which famous athlete owns a stake in the NASCAR team 23XI Racing?
A: Michael Jordan, who co-owns the team with driver Denny Hamlin
What is the most expensive Barbie doll ever sold, and how much did it cost?
A: The “Stefano Canturi” Barbie, which sold for $302,500 at auction in 2010
In medieval Europe, which bird was sometimes used as currency due to its high value?
A: The peregrine falcon
What is the superstition behind throwing coins into a fountain?
A: It is believed to bring good luck and ensure a return to the location
Which famous author once worked as a bank teller and incorporated his experiences into his novels?
A: Franz Kafka
What is the origin of the piggy bank?
A: In the Middle Ages, people used clay jars called “pygg jars” to store coins, which eventually evolved into the modern piggy bank
Which U.S. President was once a member of the “Whig Party,” which advocated for a national bank?
A: Zachary Taylor
What is the superstition behind carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck?
A: It is believed that the left hind foot of a rabbit caught in a cemetery during a full moon brings good luck
Which famous author’s face appears on the UK’s £20 note?
A: Adam Smith, the Scottish economist and philosopher

Conclusion

Ultimately, your money trivia knowledge is about to reach new heights!

We’ve covered a wide range of interesting facts, from ancient currencies to modern-day financial trends, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the world of money.

So, what’s next? Put your newly acquired knowledge to the test by challenging your friends to a friendly game of money trivia, or use these facts to spark engaging conversations at your next social gathering.

Remember, understanding the complication of money not only makes you a more informed individual but also helps you navigate your personal financial journey with confidence.

Keep learning, keep exploring, and most importantly, have fun!