Of 568 currencies, 163 are in circulation... BIS also analyzes reasons for issuance and abolition

The Bank for International Settlements' November working paper, "Gaining (and losing) currency: a global database of currencies, 1850–2026," catalogues 568 currencies over the period, of which 163 were in circulation as of October 2026 and 405 had been discontinued. The database records each currency's name, issuer, jurisdiction, and the timing and reasons for its introduction or withdrawal, covering unique monetary units issued under state authority. The number of circulating currencies rose from roughly 67 in 1850 to a peak of 192 in 1994 before falling to 163 in 2026, with researchers attributing much of the decline to the euro's introduction replacing 23 existing currencies. Earlier growth was driven partly by new currencies created after the Soviet Union's breakup. The findings matter as a long-run reference for how monetary unions and state fragmentation reshape the count of legal tender.