Sharks, otters, and a man playing rugby: These are the most beautiful bank notes in the world right now

Djibouti, a tiny nation on the Horn of Africa, has a population of less than one million.

The country's newest bank note, however, is a worldbeater, paying tribute to the country's heritage and wildlife. The front features an image of a whale shark swimming in a coral reef, while the back focuses on Djibouti's shipping industry, a thriving business thanks to the nation's geographically important location on one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

40 Djibouti francs is equivalent to around $0.20.

$7 dollar may seem like an odd denomination, and it is, because this note was created by Fijian authorities to mark the first ever Olympic gold medal won by the country, in the sport of Rugby Sevens.

The note's front features Olympic captain Osea Kolinisau and coach Ben Ryan, while the back has an image of the whole Olympic squad with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.

Released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Canadian Confederation, Canada's new $10 features images of some of the country's greatest figures.

That includes Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, Sir George-Étienne Cartier, the "father of Canadian federalism," and Agnes Macphail, the first woman elected to Canadian parliament.

"This bank note is intended to captivate our imagination and instill pride in what we, as a nation, have accomplished," Stephen Poloz, the governor of the Bank of Canada said at the time of the note's release.

"It celebrates the natural beauty and majesty of our land and some of the important parliamentarians who helped shape our great country."

It is printed on a sophisticated polymer material making it more difficult to counterfeit.

Scottish money may be legal tender across the whole of the United Kingdom, but Scots get their own bank notes, made from a similar material to the highly sophisticated new English notes released by the Bank of England.

The way Scottish money is printed is unusual, with several banks printing their own notes.

The note nominated as an IBNS runner-up was printed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, and features Mary Somerville, a scientist and the first female member of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The note's reverse features a pair of otters and an extract from the poem 'Moorings' by Norman MacCraig.

For a second consecutive year, Switzerland takes home the crown of the world's best bank note, with its 10 franc note ($10). Last year, note of the year was won by Switzerland's 50 franc note.

The note, part of the "first new design the Swiss National Bank has released in 20 years," includes images of "human hands conducting an orchestra with a globe showing time zones and the punctual Swiss rail system."

According to the IBNS, it also includes "the latest in technological security standards," and is "the fourth consecutive hybrid / polymer note to win the coveted IBNS Bank Note of the Year Award."