research - printing alternative currency

[lizksheehan]

Hi all - hope you don't mind my nosing around here. I'm an independent art curator researching alternative, independent, and community currencies. Recently I was given an Obama banknote by someone in the printing industry, who told me that every so often people bring their currency projects to be printed and that this was fairly common in the industry.

Yes? Does anyone have any experience with currency-related projects? (note - I am not researching counterfeiting or anything like that-- rather, there are a growing number of towns and cities designing their own local currencies, as well as printmakers who design and spend their currencies as a form of socioeconomic experiment.)

for more info on my research, I'll share this recent article -
What’s it worth? Artist and community currencies | Art21 Blog

Many thanks for your time and thoughts.
Liz Sheehan

 

[JasonFF]

My thought is that it seems like a poor use of pulp. I don't think local currencies benefit anyone other than those creating and printing the bills. As a form of artistic expression, sure. But what is the benefit of bringing that kind of thing into actual use?

According to the article, it is to create closeness between community members. If creating a local currency is local council's solution for a lack of closeness or communication, then aren't they really just throwing money at it? The best outcome would be for the currency to show by usage who buys in to their community and community leaders. For those who don't, the currency might only symbolize their evaluation of the community - "less than face value".

 

[lizksheehan]

Community currencies have been around a long time - it's only really recently that artists have gotten involved. The main goal is to keep money local - the currencies are only valid in the particular town or district, often at a discount in exchange for US dollars, so that users save a percentage and are encouraged to spend at local businesses. The secondary benefit, of course, is a more tightly knit community.

thanks for your thoughts. anyone with specific experience of alternative currencies coming through your design/print shop?

 

[gordo]

Lots of towns do this:

YouTube - UK town prints its own money

YouTube - This Town Prints Its Own Money!

U.S. states start to print their own currencies - Pravda.Ru

gordon p

 

[PDXcurrency]

Local Currency Guy Here, Yes

Local Currency Guy Here, Yes

Hi I'm Bishop and we put out ccmag the community currency magazine. I am also project manager on PDXcurrency a new local currency system for the Portland, OR area. We are now shopping for paper and securing the local artists work for the notes. I have about two years experience with the local notes. I would love to discuss paper, ink printing and more.

I have a stack of notes here from around the US and Canada including Berkshares, Chemainus Dollars and more. The Berkshares paper and printing comes from Craine & Co. its very nice. We need help locating real quality paper which will hold a watermark. We have looked at some synthetic paper such as Yupo and one other but are not sure if the paper will take our very fine print or not. Our base designer for this series of 5 notes is Xavi and here is an example of his recent note design: Handmade : equisgarcia

I was surprised to read the article you linked to and find S. Barnwell's CC note, that is mine. We contracted for him to design the series, it is AWESOME work. Unfortunately we don't yet have a community which can take a silver community currency so Portland will be based on the dollar and a clone of the Berkshares.org

I would love to discuss print here, you may also reach me anytime at [email protected] or on skype by appointment at 'pdxcurrency'

Carl