History Main / WorthlessCurrency

* A [[ZigZaggedTrope zig-zagged]] example from real life: Music/LilyAllen [[https://twitter.com/lilyallen/status/419942070770741249 tweeted]] that in 2009 when cryptoocurrencies were new, she declined an anonymous fan's offer of over 200,000 [[UsefulNotes/{{Bitcoin}} bitcoin]] for an online concert: an amount that had no real-life value then, but would be worth almost £1.5 billion (~$2 billion US) now, making this a massive and painful [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]. However, it's speculated that since bitcoin was so new at the time that no one except its creator would've had that many, the offer might have actually been in VideoGame/SecondLife's FictionalCurrency Linden Dollars, in which case it would be a straight example since those are still worth nothing today.

* One book of ''Literature/TheThreeInvestigators'' has two men feuding over a lost safe belonging to a mutual ancestor who was a [[RunningTheBlockade blockade-runner]] during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar. SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome when the money in the safe turns out to be Confederate paper money and is therefore worthless. However, the investigators realize the old wood the safe was enmeshed in could be sold to a specialty lumber mill for a tidy sum, which the clients agree to split.

* One book of ''Literature/TheThreeInvestigators'' has two men feuding over a lost safe belonging to a mutual ancestor who was a [[RunningTheBlockade blockade-runner]] during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar. RealityEnsues when the money in the safe turns out to be Confederate paper money and is therefore worthless. However, the investigators realize the old wood the safe was enmeshed in could be sold to a specialty lumber mill for a tidy sum, which the clients agree to split.

* Played with in ''Series/TheMandalorian''. In the first episode, Din Djarin refuses payment for bounties in Imperial Credits, though since Greef Karga says "They spend," it's ambiguous whether this is because of the Empire being reduced to TheRemnant, or the Mandalorian Tribe [[HonorBeforeReason having a grudge against the Empire]] for ThePurge of their home planet. He is told the only other option is ''half'' value in Calamari Flan, but he still chooses that over the Imperial credits. When he takes a job from the Remnant later, they offer to pay in beskar steel ingots.

* In ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', while on Tatooine, Qui-Gonn tries to buy the parts he needs from Watto with Republic credits. Because Tatooine is outside of the Republic and moreover in the ass-end of space, Watto tells him to get him some real money. ([[PlotHole No explanation beyond needs of plot is forthcoming]] for why Qui-gon doesn't just hire another ship whose captain could use Republic currency upon arrival, and tell Queen Amidala to abandon or sell the damaged royal yacht.)

* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': A couple examples occur in the post-''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' period due to the state of war between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant, which means it's impossible to exchange Imperial currency for New Republic currency--nor is it very easy to exchange Imperial currency anywhere else, due to the Empire's horrible reputation.
** ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'': A Rodian attempts to pay a Barabel with New Imperial scrip, which can't be spent anywhere except on Imperial worlds.
** ''Literature/XWingSeries'': {{Exaggerated}} in ''Solo Command''. Nawara Ven offers Edda Gast immunity from prosecution for war crimes and a new identity with a fortune of half a million credits, in exchange for intelligence on a {{genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} project of Warlord Zsinj's. She insists, however, on being paid in Imperial credits. [[spoiler:Nawara conveniently neglects to inform her that [[JusticeByOtherLegalMeans attempting to bring that much Imperial currency through a New Republic port without the proper security clearances carries a life sentence for sedition]].]]

* In ''Literature/MakingMoney'', master con-man Moist von Lipwig (who's just been put in charge of the bank) takes on the biggest challenge of his life. Attempting to persuade hard-bitten small shopkeepers in Ankh-Morpork, who are wedded to the idea that legitimate currency can only take the form of metal coins, that paper banknotes are every bit as real. He knows that until he can convince enough people of the reality of paper money - and to get them to agree it has value - the new notes are functionally worthless.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'': Scooby-Doo, upon completing a challenge to stay a whole night in a "haunted" house, inherits a large sum of money from the late challenger. However, it is revealed that the money is all Confederate dollars, rendering it worthless in post-Civil War United States.

* In ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', while on Tatooine, Qui-Gonn tries to buy the parts he needs from Watto with Republic credits. Because Tatooine is outside of the Republic and moreover in the ass-end of space, Watto tells him to get him some real money.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_zimbabwemoney_0.png]]

Compare GlobalCurrencyException, which is mostly a video game trope, and WorthlessYellowRocks, where a priceless rare material to one party is completely worthless to another who has an over-abundance. If it still has ''some'' value go to RidiculousExchangeRates or RidiculousFutureInflation.

* In ''Film/StreetFighter'' M. Bison pays a hired thug in "Bison dollars", that he says will exchange for five British pounds in the future. "For that is the exchange rate the Bank of England will set after I kidnap their queen."

* ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'': In "The Pearls That Were His Eyes", the ''Andromeda Ascendant'' stops at a drift station to resupply, but Rev Bem points out that they need a means to pay, to which Dylan, referring to the ship's stores of old Commonwealth money, dryly comments, "We have plenty of currency, it's just that none of it s... current." They wind up selling off some of the ship's fine dining set and personal effects to raise money quickly.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/StreetFighter https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bison_dollars.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Bison Dollars: a must have for your very hypothetical future world empire.]]

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* ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'': In "The Pearls That Were His Eyes", the ''Andromeda Ascendant'' stops at a drift station to resupply, but Rev Bem points out that they need a means to pay, to which Dylan, referring to the ship's stores of old Commonwealth money, dryly comments, "We have plenty of currency, it's just that none of it's...current". They wind up selling off some of the ship's fine dining set and personal effects to raise money quickly.

* ''Series/TheMandalorian'': In the first episode the titular character refuses payment for bounties in Imperial Credits, as the Empire's no longer in power. He is told the only other option is ''half'' value in Calamari Flan, but he still chooses that over the Imperial credits. When he takes a job from the Remnant later, they offer to pay in beskar steel ingots.
* A ''Series/TheSwampFox'' episode where Marion?s men pay a tavern owner with Continental money, which is worthless at the time. He?s a Tory and not happy. They tell him the new government will make good on it after the war. TruthInTelevision as continental money really was worthless since the fledgling Americans had nothing to back it until after the war.

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-->'''Dipper''': Whoa. This is worthless.
-->'''Trembley''': It's less than worthless, my boy!

-->'''Clerk:''' That'll be six dollars.
-->'''Cartman:''' Okay....and how much is that in "pubes"?
-->'''Clerk:''' ''*beat*'' [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe We don't take "pubes".]]
-->'''Cartman:''' ''*defiant*'' Listen, my money is as good as anybody's! Don't you, uh, discriminate against my people by not accepting these pubes.
-->'''Clerk:''' We don't take pubes! End of story!!
-->'''Cartman:''' ''*storms off*'' RACIST!!!

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* Joshua Norton was an insane man who lived in San Francisco in the 1860s and proclaimed himself "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico". While he had no actual political power, the citizens of the city loved him and played along with his delusions. He even printed up his own "currency", which several local bars accepted as payment (at least from Norton himself).

* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'': A rodian attempts to pay a barabel with New Imperial scrip, which can't be spent anywhere except on Imperial worlds.
** ''Literature/XWingSeries'': {{Exaggerated}} in ''Solo Command''. Nawara Ven offers Edda Gast immunity from prosecution for war crimes and a new identity with a fortune of half a million credits, in exchange for intelligence on a {{genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} project of Warlord Zsinj's. She insists, however, on being paid in Imperial credits. [[spoiler:Nawara conveniently neglects to inform her that [[JusticeByOtherLegalMeans attempting to bring that much Imperial currency through a New Republic port without the proper security clearances carries a life sentence for sedition]].]]

* ''Series/TheMandalorian'': In the first episode the titular character refuses payment for bounties in Imperial Credits, as the Empire's no longer in power. When he takes a job from the Remnant later, they offer to pay in beskar steel ingots.

Compare GlobalCurrencyException, which is mostly a video game trope. If it still has ''some'' value go to RidiculousExchangeRates or RidiculousFutureInflation.

* Joshua Norton was an insane man who lived in San Francisco in the 1860's and proclaimed himself "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico". While he had no actual political power, the citizens of the city loved him and played along with his delusions. He even printed up his own "currency", which several local bars accepted as payment (at least from Norton himself).