本研究以台灣、歐洲所發行的歐元以及IBNS由2004年至2018年冠軍鈔票作為研究對象，針對鈔票上應用之圖像設計進行研究，利用文本分析初探台灣鈔票圖像、瞭解歐元鈔票之圖像意涵分析及IBNS歷年冠軍鈔票之圖像意涵分析、圖像分類、獲獎因素，再以符號學初步歸納出鈔票設計元素之系譜軸。研究結果：歐元運用不同藝術風格時期之建築作為鈔票圖像，因歐盟條約的平等原則，鈔票上所運用之建築圖像皆不代表任何實體建築，例如：面額5歐元，正面門廊運用古典希臘風格時期的綜合柱式，傳達歐盟核心精神：坦承、合作，背面為水道橋，象徵歐盟各國之間的交流及與世界各國之連結。IBNS歷年冠軍鈔票藉由圖像傳遞：國家歷史、建築工程之成就、民族文化、生態環境、藝術風格、國家產業、人文景觀、民族的和平⋯⋯等信息，所運用圖像以動植物為主要圖像最多，第二為建築物，人物及人權並列至第三；獲獎原因多數為色彩搭配，其二為藝術性，第三為防偽技術。並初步歸納出系譜軸元素，共有14要點：主要圖像、輔助圖像、背景圖像、迎光透視水印、金屬油墨設計、條狀箔膜、文字、簽名、國徽、國旗、鈔票編碼、花紋、透明窗口設計、觸摸設計。期望藉由此研究，記錄下貨幣發展脈絡，並瞭解鈔票的存在不僅為經濟用途，更是國家的名片，亦期望國人透過鈔票能瞭解不同民族的多元文化。

This research studies the banknote of Taiwan, Euro and the IBNS banknote of the year from 2004 to 2018 and focuses on the graphic designs of these paper money. This research tries to text-analyze the graphic meanings and the graphic categories to conclude the reason why they can win the award of banknote of the year. It also tries to conclude a semiotic system of the paper money designs. The result leads to that the Euro uses architectures of different art styles as the icons of the banknotes. The architectures of the euro banknotes are not real buildings, but representing a spiritual symbols of Europe. For example the 5 euro bill uses the architecture of ancient Greek order to represent the core values of European Union: “respect of the human dignity and human rights”. The rear view of the 5 euro is a bridge that represents the communication and the connection of the states. The winners of IBNS are conveying the histories, architect achievements, cultures, environments, arts, industries and so on through the icons of the banknotes. The most chosen category of icons is the animals and plants. The second is the architectures, and the third is people and humanity. The reasons why they win this award are mostly the colors and designs. The second is aesthetical meanings, and the third is security features. The semiotic system of paper money designs can be concluded into 14 categories which are main themes, supportive themes, backgrounds, watermarks, optical variable device patch, optical variable device stripe, letter design, signatures, national emblems, national flags, serial numbering, intaglio printing, see-through windows, and the feelings of intaglio printing. This research is expecting to record the texts of the paper money and to expand the ideas that the purposes of paper money are not only economical but also identical for a nation. It also expects that people can start to realize the culture hidden behind the banknotes.