World Currencies — Codes, Symbols & Countries
Every currency has a three-letter ISO 4217 code (USD, EUR, JPY), often a symbol ($, €, ¥) and a country or region that issues it. This reference lists the world's current currencies and a selection of historical currencies that are no longer in use — with their codes, symbols, issuing countries and a short description. There are no exchange rates here; it is a plain, factual guide to what each currency is and where it belongs.
About this guide
This is a reference guide only — it lists currency codes, symbols and issuing countries and does not provide exchange rates or financial advice. Currency details can change; always check an official source before relying on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ISO 4217 currency code?
ISO 4217 is the international standard that gives every currency a unique three-letter code — for example USD for the US dollar, EUR for the euro and JPY for the Japanese yen. The first two letters usually match the country's ISO code and the third is the currency's initial.
Why do some currencies have no symbol?
A currency symbol is just a shorthand sign like $, € or £. Many currencies never adopted a distinct symbol and are written using their ISO code or an abbreviation instead, so the symbol column is left blank for them.
Do different countries share the same currency symbol?
Yes. The $ sign is used by the US dollar, the Canadian, Australian and many other dollars; ¥ is used by both the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan. The ISO 4217 code removes the ambiguity, which is why codes matter.
What happened to currencies like the pengő, mark, lira and peseta?
They were withdrawn from circulation. The Hungarian pengő was destroyed by record hyperinflation and replaced by the forint in 1946; the German mark, French franc, Italian lira and Spanish peseta were all replaced by the euro in 2002.
Does this page show exchange rates?
No. This is a reference guide to what each currency is, its code, symbol and country. It intentionally does not include exchange rates or conversions.