Currency is the type of payment used for exchange and finance in a particular country or territory. Banknotes and metal coins are the most common form of currency, with the notes being made of cotton, paper or plastic material. Knowing which currency is used in a particular country is fairly important, especially during travel. Fortunately, there are long lists of world currencies, complete with 3 digit currency codes and conversion calculators found online, but these can get confusing if you want to know about specific currency types rather than have them broken down by countries, arranged alphabetically.
For a list of foreign currency, which includes a few of the most basic and commonly used monetary forms from across the globe, read on below.
The Dollar:
You may be thinking to yourself that the dollar isn't a foreign currency, because it is used in the United States. While this is true, it is also used in a number of other countries across the world. As you might know, the dollar is broken down into 100 cents, and uses the $ symbol to represent it. Countries that use the dollar include the United States, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Singapore, Namibia, Hong Kong, Suriname, Brunei, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Belize. But remember that these dollars are not equivalent but have different values when compared to each other.
The Euro:
Ranked only second to the United States dollar as the most used currency in the world, the Euro is the official currency in 19 of the 28 member countries of the European Union. The currency is used in Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Estonia, France, Cyprus, Lithuania, Montenegro, Austria, Andorra, Germany, Belgium, Malta, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Slovenia. The Euro has certainly earned its way into the list of foreign currency.
The Pound:
The pound sterling, or simply pound, was first used in Great Britain, and is broken down into 100 pence. It is used in the United Kingdom as well as a few other countries, although the alternative pound is different. In Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, another currency called the pound is used, but it is broken down into 100 piastres.
The Peso:
As with the British pound, the peso also translates loosely into the pound concept, but actually means, weight. As far as the list of foreign currency goes, the peso is a unit of money in many countries, mostly former Spanish colonies, and was originally a coin, which breaks down into 100 centesimos. It is used in Chile, Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Mexico, and the Philippines. Again, the peso for each country has a different value compared to the other pesos.
The Franc:
The Franc is best known as the previous currency of France before the euro took its place. The Swiss Franc, however, is still used in Switzerland. The Franc is also used in Liechtenstein and French regions of Africa; it is broken down into 100 centimes.
These are a few of the countries around the world and their main source of currency, but there are many others not listed. In Kenya, a shilling is used, while in Japan, yen is the primary form of currency, and in India rupee is used as payment. As you can see above, many countries have the same name for their currencies but these are not equivalent, except for the Euro, which has the same value in whatever country it is used.