Bills from more than 50 countries hang neatly on a whiteboard in front of Tapiwa Mashaya’s workspace in the Worldwide Online Department at BYU-Idaho, each one carefully placed and evenly displayed.

Mashaya, an accounting major from Eastview, Zimbabwe, began collecting currency after taking his current job as an assistant project manager in the Worldwide Online Department. He works with curriculum designers who build courses delivered globally through BYU-Pathway. Flags from countries served by the program decorated the office, and Mashaya wanted another way to connect with those places.

“I thought it would be really cool to collect currency and display it near my workstation so I could engage with different cultures every day,” Mashaya said.

Early in his collection, Mashaya asked a friend from India if he had any rupees. The friend shared a few, and the exchange sparked the hobby. Another moment strengthened his interest. While visiting a faculty mentor, Mashaya saw a 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar bill, which reminded him of the hyperinflation he experienced growing up. The bill led to a meaningful conversation and showed him how currency can connect people through shared experiences.

Today, Mashaya’s collection includes coins and bills from more than 50 countries. One of the most unique pieces comes from Zimbabwe and features a QR code. He also values currencies from Mauritius and Vietnam because he has not yet met students from those countries on campus.

Mashaya usually asks friends, classmates and returned missionaries for currency and sometimes trades pieces. The hobby has helped him form friendships and learn about cultures without waiting for campus events.

“There is so much diversity here at BYU-Idaho,” Mashaya said. “It’s one way I make friends and learn about other cultures.”

Mashaya hopes to add Kenyan shillings soon and eventually collect currency from countries in the Middle East. He plans to continue growing the collection long term.