Banknotes　have　long　been　suspected　to　be　biologically　＂dirty＂　due　to　their　frequent　human　contact,　which　may　transmit　human　microbial　pathogens.　Still,　it　is　an　unsettled　issue　whether　the　microbes　on　banknotes　pose　a　real　threat　to　human　health.　In　several　previous　studies,　metagenomic　sequencing　was　used　to　reveal　the　diversities　of　microbes　on　banknotes　but　live　microorganism　culture　and　functional　verification　were　lacking.　In　this　study,　we　collected　banknotes　of　RMB　in　China　as　well　as　dollar　bills　in　the　United　States　and　analyzed　the　microbial　biodiversity　and　drug　resistance　genes　carried　by　the　identified　microbes　by　metagenomic　sequencing　and　in　vitro　culture　methods.　We　identified　eight　major　genera　of　drug-resistant　bacteria　through　screening　of　30　antibiotics,　and　the　blood　agar　plate　culture　uncovered　six　pathogenic　fungal　species.　Numerous　phage　and　six　dangerous　viral　sequences　were　also　found.　These　results　should　substantiate　our　concern　about　the　potential　risk　of　banknotes　to　human　health.