I want to buy (well, exchange, really) some of the local U.S. currencies floating around these days. There are local currencies floating around in Detroit, Traverse City MI, western Massachusetts (I'd really like this one), Ithaca NY, North Fork CA, and Piedmont NC. Brooklyn, NY will soon be printing a local currency as well.

Anyway, if anybody in any of these areas can get their hands on some of the local currency I'd like to grab some small-denomination bills to keep/collect. Don't want to spend very much at all, though, obviously but I think most of the currencies have ~$1.00 equivalents so I'd like those

 

i dont understand

 

For example, western Massachusetts has a currency of its own. It's called the berkshare. It's like the U.S. dollar. So, for example, many businesses in western Massachusetts accept either federal U.S. dollars or berkshares. Some businesses in some of these communities even pay employees with the local currency rather than in federal U.S. dollars. There's quite a number of regional currencies in the U.S. popping up with the recession going on. Some are merely sort of publicity stunts/glorified coupons only accepted by a single business or whatever but many are genuine currency accepted/circulated within these communities. I think the berkshare has a circulation of several million

Here's a berkshare:



I just think it's pretty interesting and would like to collect some of these local currencies.

 

WOW, you learn something new everyday. I honestly did not know this.
does Houston have any? if so please post some pics

 

I'm with hamchan, had no idea. Interesting.

 

No, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) doesn't have any as far as I can tell. Just the ones I listed above, and then Brooklyn is developing one called the "torch" (although it looks like this one may just be a ploy/gimmick type of deal rather than a "real" circulating currency). South Bend, IN is developing one as well. From what I can tell the closest one to a "real" (as in pretty widely used/accepted) currency is the berkshare in Massachusetts.

Oregon has a different take on it, called the "hour exchange". For example, you'd do X amount of work on a community project or whatever and you'd be given so many "hours". Then you can spend/use your "hours" at local businesses, or whatever. So theoretically, if you wanted an iPod or something, you could dig ditches for 4 hours and then redeem your time for the iPod, I'd guess. I'm mainly interested in actual paper currency though, which I don't think the hour exchange uses.

Many of the smaller towns create their own currency to sort of boost commerce in their own city. Since the currency isn't accepted anywhere else, it sort of ensures that money will be spent in that city.

Back in the depression era (and of course in the 19th century and whatnot) there were a ton of local currencies. These nowadays are popping up because of the recession.

I just think it's pretty neat and would like to have some as keepsakes

 

I saw an article about this earlier on MSN. The first thought to cross my mind was, "Oh boy...this isn't going to end well." Somehow I don't see the American government letting it fly for too much longer, considering they're more concerned about putting our money into their own pockets and their war, versus into our communities.

Either way, it's kind of a neat idea. Good luck with your search.

 

Well it's actually perfectly legal from what I understand. I think the U.S. Dollar HAS to be accepted as legal tender (i.e., you can't deny U.S. tender as payment and require a different currency instead), but that doesn't mean other currencies can't also be accepted.

Heck, there's a pizza chain here in Dallas that accepts friggin pesos for crying out loud.

 

Actually, now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere a while back about Microsoft trying to get Microsoft points accepted as legal tender so that you could exchange them for food, drinks, games, etc.

Think about it...how much more lazy can you get? Sit on your *** in front of your 360 and order a Papa John's online using Microsoft points.

 

Houston does have an alternate currently, just like Dallas... It's called the freakin Peso.