Say, got a spare $10,000,000 on you? That's right, $10 million.

Due to an economic crisis and what reporters are now calling "superinflation," Zimbabwe recently issued a note denominated 10 million Zimbabwe dollars. 

Sadly, the exchange value for a Zimbabwe $10 million note is about U.S. $4 on the black market.

Or, as this only slightly older story says, "A regular loaf of bread would cost US$25 (€18) at the official exchange rate of 30,000-1 or between 40 and 15 U.S. cents at the sharply veering unofficial rate of between 2 million-1 and 5 million-1."

The cost of a hamburger, which each story attempts to use as an example, apparently varies. Maybe these reporters should switch to pizza.

The previous highest denomination note, $750,000, was also a Zimbabwe issue introduced a month or so ago. 

An upcoming issue of Bank Note Reporter will show images of some of these notes.

Added 03/17/2008: I've now posted here the images of the front and back of the new $10,000,000 note that appeared in the March issue of Bank Note Reporter. The images were provided courtesy of Frank van Tiel.

Treasury officials and others will participate in a ceremonial "first spend" of a colorized Series 2006 $5 Federal Reserve Note on the day that the new note first enters circulation, March 13.

According to information from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the spending of a new $5 will take place at President Lincoln's Cottageat the Soldier's Home in Washington, D.C.

Just who will participate is not currently known, but I would expect representatives of the Federal Reserve, Treasury and Homeland Security in the form of the Secret Service.

Are you looking forward to the new $5?