Dirty money - Studies on paper currency showed that 94 percent of notes are contaminated with pathogens. Each bank note in circulation contains an average of 1190 bacterial cells per note

Plastic fantastic - Polymer banknotes (such as Australian and New Zealand dollars), have proven to be a cleaner, greener, more durable alternative to traditional paper currencies. Polymer notes do not absorb liquids, have a wipe-able, washable surface and provide a more inhospitable environment for bacteria to flourish. Polymer banknotes are also fully recyclable and can be converted into a range of everyday plastic products, from bins to watering cans.

Short Snorter – A banknote signed by soldiers (mostly during World War II). The bond of friendship amongst the crewmembers or comrades in arms, existed typically as paper money signed by two or more men and then separated (torn) so that when all were together again they would still have the money for a drink!

Irish eyes are shining - Research showed that 100% of Irish bank notes contain traces of cocaine, where English notes only have 99%.

On a more serious note paper money has reportedly contributed to the spread of hepatitis C among 750,000 cocaine users in the UK. A banknote is usually shared among a group of users, where risk of infection drastically increases.

Cash isn’t king - Spending on debit cards topped cash spending for the first time in 2005 and even the iconic capitalist board game Monopoly ditched bank notes in favour of a debit card in July 2006.

Private banking - The last private bank notes in England and Wales were issued by the Somerset bank, Fox, Fowler and Co in 1921.

Money to burn - From March 2005 to February 2006, £20 notes to the value of £5,295,361,440 were destroyed by the Bank of England

Seeing red - Thanks to inflation, the largest Zimbabwean banknote in circulation will now just about buy you one tomato.

Sophie Neary, Director for BeatThatQuote.com said: ‘Despite the convenience of credit and debit cards and the current spate of fabulous credit card deals that are available, the appeal of a wad of crisp bank notes just hasn’t waned. “