Hard currency area? One has to laugh (5)
I believe the answer is:
hyena
'one has to laugh' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'hard currency area?' is the wordplay.
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'currency' becomes 'yen' (Japanese currency).
'h'+'yen'+'a'='HYENA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hyena that I've seen before include "Dog-like African carnivore" , "Dog-like scavenger" , "Meat-eater" , "one to laugh" , "Dog-like animal with howl like laughter" .)