The readers of this article are likely to agree that cash, whether banknotes or coins, is a wonderful thing.
Cash is:
The list goes on and on. Although the siren call of convenience is luring people to digital alternatives, cash remains part of the fabric of our societal DNA.
Why, then, don’t we celebrate cash more? There are so many positives about cash, so many different elements to highlight.
It is, of course, one of those rare things that every person in the world can, has and probably still does, use. It is a universal positive, a good news story. Particularly as cash usage eases, what would be better than to remind everybody what they have?
And what better way to celebrate than an International Day of Cash (or World Cash Day)? The United Nations (UN) has a long list of International Days 1. They range from the earnest, the World Day of Social Justice (20 February) to the less so, World Television Day (21 November). Perhaps cash straddles both.
Before we address the practicalities, a moment of fun. What date would you choose?
12 January 1024, China issued the first government money (although how anyone can be that precise is anyone’s guess). 16 July 1661 the first European banknote was issued in Sweden, 24 June is the birthday of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, etc. etc. Or, closer to the present day, 27 June 1967 was the day the first ATM went into operation, and that day has already been selected as ATM Appreciation Day by James Shepherd-Barron, (author and podcaster, disaster management consultant, and son of the ATM’s inventor).
Most official international days are created by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
A member state (or group of states) proposes a resolution, negotiates the wording, and seeks cosponsors. The UNGA resolution typically includes the purpose of the day, the date and, if relevant, the responsible UN agency and a call for governments, NGOs, and the private sector to observe it. That is how the International Day of Banks, which takes place on 4 December and which is the only money related day, was established (sponsored by Brazil in 2019).
Creating a new international day usually involves a member state championing the cause, drafting a resolution, negotiation among member states and getting it adopted by consensus or vote. This is often political and some proposals stall for years because of geopolitical sensitivities or competing priorities.
This feels like quite an ask but perhaps we should not lack ambition, particularly when one thinks of the core role that central banks play in the world.
Alternatively, a smaller number of observances are designated by agencies such as UNESCO (World Poetry Day) or the Food and Agriculture Organization (World Pulses Day). Both the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund are specialised agencies of the UN, offering an alternative route. These are still considered official UN observances, even though they don’t go through the General Assembly.
Outside the UN system, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), companies, and even individuals can declare a ‘World X Day’.
Would central banks and treasuries engage with such informality, particularly given that supporting payment choice often makes them hesitate to endorse cash publicly? We can but ask.
But should or would the worldwide cash producer community and the even larger cash handling and cash management community go ahead anyway? There are a number of industry associations, global and regional, who could work on this. And, at the end of the day, a celebration of cash is targeted at the users – ie. the general public, rather than the issuers, producers or handlers.
The advantage of doing something, even Plan B, is that gives everyone a moment of focus. An opportunity to go public about what we love and what society needs (and often takes for granted).
It’s time to talk, make a plan, then carry out that plan and celebrate. Welcome to 2026!
