- Eleven territories and nations officially use the U.S. dollar despite having no representation in U.S. monetary policy, including Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Timor-Leste, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
- Modern playing cards are coated with a finish—often starch-based or plastic—to reduce friction and prevent sticking.
- Earth is the only planet in our Solar System not named after a Roman or Greek god or goddess.
- Charlie Chaplin is said to have entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest and failed to win.
- Gary Numan is 13 days older than Gary Oldman.
- China introduced the world’s first paper money during the Tang Dynasty, with widespread government-issued banknotes appearing during the Song Dynasty (around the 9th century).
- From 1977 to 2011, Libya’s national flag was simply a solid green rectangle—the only national flag in history with no symbols or other colors.
- A group of frogs is called an army.
Facts by Sean McVeigh, factologist.
