When I was I kid I used to collect stamps and baseball cards, just like nearly every other American kid does. Then, about 3 years ago I started collecting US coin sets, mostly proofs from the US mint for my kids (they make great presents BTW).
As a lover of history and economics, coin/money collecting (numismatics) just made sense to me and now I go to the monthly coin show in my area and spend a few hours a week on Ebay searching for for interesting coins and paper money for my collection. Just this week I picked up something that reminds me of runaway inflation from the past. Its a 1923 – 20 Million Marks bank note from the Weimar Republic of Germany. Inflation was so rampant during the Wiemar Republic that people used these notes as wall paper.
Since I want to own a piece of history, I bought it for $1.75 from Ebay. Goes to show you, one man's wall paper is another man's treasure.
You'll notice that there is text written in red ink across the bank note. The text indicates, that the note was reissued with the value of 2 billion marks, some time after its original issue.
Given the Keynesian stance of current governments (spend, spend, don't talk, just spend), one wonders whether this kind of hyperinflation is coming our way …
@Stefan: Yes I saw that too. I find the history of money and economies fascinating. Despite all the crap we hear here about how great things are, I ask myself: Is this sustainable? No, it isn't.