Kamal Ghorui
Banknotes are not just a medium of exchange for buying commodities, they are similar to a canvas for a country’s history, culture, and a mark of lineage and empires.It physically represents a country’s identity and past by depicting famous landscapes, cultural symbols, and historical figures.The currency notes are used and exchanged among millions of people everyday. These valuable papers carry the stories of individuals and incidents that have shaped the nation. As a common tool of commerce the currency also becomes a potent representation of our shared past and national pride.But in the last few decades, many countries have begun featuring female pioneers, artists, writers, and leaders directly on the paper money that millions of people use every day.Here are some countries that feature females on their currency notes.
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Australia
Australia is well known around the world for its dedication towards gender parity on its banknotes. By featuring a different woman on one side of every denomination currently in circulation, the country makes sure to strike the right balance of representation of its history including women leaders.Begining on February 14, 1966, with the first female as Queen Elizabeth II appearing on the $5 note, other prominent females include businesswoman Mary Reibey, social reformer Dame Mary Gilmore, opera legend Dame Nellie Melba, and political pioneer Edith Cowan.
England
England has represented important women on its banknotes, often choosing them from its literary and royal history. Queen Elizabeth II was the first woman to be featured on a Bank of England banknote, with her portrait appearing in 1960. Another prominent female on England’s currency includes Jane Austen, whose novels had a lasting impact on English literature.
Canada
Canada has worked endlessly to put more women on its money to better represent the country’s history and diversity. Viola Desmond introduced in 2018 on currency notes, a civil rights activist who fought against racial segregation, and Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on Canadian coins since 1953. Canada does this to show how important women have been to its democracy and how they continue to be.
Mexico
Mexico has chosen to pay respect to its diverse cultural history by featuring globally recognised women on its currency. One of the most famous examples is the 17th-century intellectual Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, who currently appears on 100-peso banknote, introduced in the late 1970s, recognising her status as one of Mexico’s most important poets and philosophers who broke barriers for women in literature and education.
Samoa
While people expect such changes from larger nations, smaller countries like Samoa have also used their currency to pay respect to local leaders of great importance to their community.In 2023, Samoa launched a commemorative 60-tala banknote featuring Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, making her the first woman to appear on the nation’s currency. She served as Samoa’s seventh Prime Minister, from 2021 to 2025, and remains a prominent figure in the country’s modern political history.
