research

Beads have been used as currency but are not most common. I am interested in moving past the bead. I have been experimenting with different ways I can do that with the available materials. I have been most successful with using steel wool around a mandrel to make a coin with a large hole in the center. I plan on trying to get other shapes in the coin. This references currency used in China, Japan. India, and probably many other places.

I also want to try cutting my coins to indicate smaller values as was practiced during the 1200’s in England. “Since there were no coins of smaller value pennies were often cut in half or quarters” (Fell’s Guide to coins and money tokens of the world.)

My culture will ultimately be determined by the currency I create. I think my culture will be fictional, maybe futuristic. Their primary means of exchange is the barter system, which helps sustain local economies. Coins will be used with bartering is not possible. All money will be exchanged in its physical form. The coins will also hold value themselves by being a beautiful object. Maybe something that is also used as jewelry.

The money we use today only works because everyone thinks it works. Our paper/cloth money is not a valuable object like metal. The only thing special about it is the complex and awesome way it was printed to prevent counterfeit. Things get even more bizarre when the value of invisible money is considered. Billions of dollars are exchanged every day without anyone seeing it! Maybe physical money will become obsolete.