Usage of Animalistic Illustration in Monetary Signs: International Experience

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to study animalistic imagery in the design of banknotes and their correlation with the traditional and contemporary culture of the country they represent. The article is aimed at identifying aspects of money design impact on preserving unique heritage of a particular and its positive representation in the world. Research methodology is based on the application of empirical and comparative analysis. The theoretical basis consists of scientific publications on sign systems, certain aspects of banknote design, and the priority of different factors in banknote identification. The source material for the study includes banknotes from countries with different cultural backgrounds containing animalistic images. Scientific novelty. For the first time in the Ukrainian space, the article provides a review and systematization of the use of animalistic illustrations in the design of banknotes from different countries worldwide. The influence of a country’s traditional culture on the design of modern banknotes is explored. A comprehensive analysis of the design of Australian and South African banknotes is carried out from both design and culturological perspectives. Conclusions. Currently, images of fauna representatives are an integral part of the design of banknotes in countries such as South Africa, Australia, Madagascar, South Sudan, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand. The images used in banknote design present unique representatives of fauna specific to regions, which have become an integral part of local traditional culture and contemporary practices. This proves that the design of banknotes is based on a semantic component, particularly on signs that, on one hand, are iconic accurate reproductions of real fauna representatives, and on the other hand, symbols of many cultural mythologies and basic principles of the mentality of the leading ethnic group for a particular country. Studying the correlation between images used in the sign system of a particular country’s banknotes and its traditional culture allows for a better understanding of the specificity of using not only animalistic illustrations in banknote design but also other elements as components of the banknote sign system.