2. Introduction
This slideshow provides a quick reference
guide to the currencies used in Asia’s top
five economies according to their Gross
Domestic Product (GDP):
China
Japan
India
Russia
South Korea
3. China
Currency: Renminbi
Where it is used: Peoples Democratic Republic of China (except
Hong Kong and Macua); Mongolia and Burma (unofficially)
Main Unit: Yuan
Symbol: ￥
Denominations: jiǎo (￥1 = 10 jiǎo) and fēn (￥1 = 100 fēn)
Central Bank: People's Bank of China
£1 sterling = ￥10.239
Legal Tender:
Coins: ￥0.01 to ￥1
Notes: ￥0.1 to ￥2
Other Info: The term Renminbi is translated as ‘the peoples
currency’ whilst the term yuan is derived from the Chinese names
for a small round coin (see Japanese yen and South Korean won).
4. Japan
Currency: Yen
Where it is used: Japan
Main Unit: Yen
Symbol: ¥
Denominations: sen (¥1 = 100 sen) and rin (￥1 = 1,000 rin). Neither
have been used since 1953
Central Bank: Bank of Japan
£1 sterling = ¥126.115
Legal Tender:
Coins: ¥1 to ¥500
Notes: ¥1,000 to ¥10,000
Other Info: Behind the US dollar and the Euro, the yen is the third
most traded international currency. The name Yen is derived from
the Chinese names for a small round coin (see Chinese yuan and
South Korean won).
5. India
Currency: Indian Rupee
Where it is used: India; unofficially in parts of Bhutan and Nepal
Main Unit: Rupee
Symbol: ₹
Denominations: paisa (₹1 = 100 paise)
Central Bank: Reserve Bank of India
£1 sterling = ₹ 86.693
Legal Tender:
Coins: ₹0.5 (50 paise) to ₹10
Notes: ₹5 to ₹1,000
Other Info: The rupee’s symbol, ₹, was designed and chosen
through a competition open to the public and came into use as
recently as July 2011.
6. Russia
Currency: Ruble
Where it is used: Russia; parts of the former USSR such as Abkhazia
and South Ossetia
Main Unit: Ruble
Symbol: TBA
Denominations: kopek (1 ruble = 100 kopeks)
Central Bank: Bank of Russia
£1 sterling = 50.348 rubles
Legal Tender:
Coins: 1 kopek to 10 rubles
Notes: 5 to 5,000 rubles
Other Info: The ruble currently lacks an official symbol although the
Russian authorities are currently trying to decide on one.
7. South Korea
Currency: South Korean Won
Where it is used: South Korea
Main Unit: Won
Symbol: ￦
Denominations: jeon (￦1 = 100 jeon). Not in current use.
Central Bank: Bank of Korea
£1 sterling = ￦1,816.590
Legal Tender:
Coins: ￦10 to ￦500
Notes: ￦1,000 to ￦50,000
Other Info: As mentioned above with the Chinese yuan and the
Japanese yen, both the won and the jeon share the common
derivation referring to the small silver coins once in use across much
of Asia.
8. Useful Links
Business Link Foreign Currency Guide
Money Research Institute Foreign
Currency Guide
Wikipedia – Economy of Asia
Bloomberg – Asian Currency Trading
Asian Investment Funds
