Money, Beautiful and False

October 16, 2007 8:07 PM

Stephen Barnwell makes meticulous bills for fictional worlds, such as the Dream Dollars of a lost Antarctic colony, complete with symbolism and backstories. He has introduced several new, more politically controversial fictional currencies for less ideal worlds: the United States of Islam, the State of War, and the Empire of America. He is not the only artist who imagines currency, there are the beautiful notes of Kamberra and the strange work of JSG Boggs [prev] who hand-draws almost real bills that subvert the lines between money and art, occasionally running into issues with the Secret Service on the way. On the borders between reality and fantasy is the new currency developed by foreign exchange specialists Travelex, the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination, introduced to solve some of the problems in money in space, and which may actually be used by space tourists. [prev.]
posted by blahblahblah (18 comments total)

So why would the United States of Islam print the faces of people on their notes?
posted by pompomtom at 8:27 PM on October 16, 2007

I've seen that Barnwell stuff before - there's some obscenely racist art in there.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:27 PM on October 16, 2007

I dug the QUIDs. Looking at trying to pick some up, even if I need to head to Chicago...
posted by Samizdata at 8:28 PM on October 16, 2007

I've seen that Barnwell stuff before - there's some obscenely racist art in there.

Outside of the United States of Islam stuff (which I can't tell if it represents his views as an artist, or is some sort of statement given his contravening pieces on the Empire of America), what bothered you?
posted by blahblahblah at 8:38 PM on October 16, 2007

Humm, well the United States of Islam thing is a bit ... er ... heavyhanded? It's one thing to make your point and perhaps be controversial, but seriously dude, you don't have to beat people over the head with it. It would actually be more effective if the description wasn't so obviously anti-Islam, and was written the way a PR hack from the USI would actually write it, rather than as a series of talking points on Why Islam Is Evil.

The State of War one is interesting, but again I think it's a great concept that could be executed better, and would be more interesting and better art generally, if it was toned down just a tad. (I'd probably just put a $1 bill in a display case... but maybe the social commentary I'd be making isn't the same as what Barnwell is going for.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:40 PM on October 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

The US of Islam series is a bit heavy handed
posted by edgeways at 8:42 PM on October 16, 2007

snap
posted by edgeways at 8:42 PM on October 16, 2007

I've seen that Barnwell stuff before

Uh, yeah.... Self-linking neo-con asshole, to be precise.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:46 PM on October 16, 2007

Uh, yeah.... Self-linking neo-con asshole, to be precise.

Yikes. I didn't see that before I posted. I guess it wasn't an attempt at some sort of subtle statement. Ah well, everyone loves his Dream Dollars, at least. And the other links are not by as objectionable characters.
posted by blahblahblah at 8:50 PM on October 16, 2007

Interesting post, controversial link besides.

...foreign exchange specialists Travelex, the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination,

What in the hell? Did they hire an Art Center graduate to be a currency designer? Those things are huge - and they remind me of Tang, or later, that freaky Orbitz drink with the floating balls of goo. What in the hell is wrong with, say, a small, flat, plastic coin with an RFID tag or a hologram or something in it? Weight and space are at a premium, you know!
posted by loquacious at 8:57 PM on October 16, 2007

Lots of nice fake bills here (search or scroll down to "paper money week")
posted by senor biggles at 9:01 PM on October 16, 2007

er...here
posted by senor biggles at 9:12 PM on October 16, 2007

Of all the art works within these links, I liked Boggs' plastic Sacagawea dollars the most. It's a fantastic parody of the abject failure of the "golden dollar".
posted by Tube at 10:00 PM on October 16, 2007

The Empire stuff is okay. It's all just kind of nice, or okay. I certainly couldn't do the art, but the concept behind most of these is really... lacking.

Which is strange, I usually associate aesthetic sense with a certain level of intelligence. On the other hand, the guy is a self-linking asshole, so I guess he's not very smart at all.

It seems to be more like "lol I can make money that looks neat-ish" rather than doing anything interesting at all with theme and symbolism, which is, duh, what money is for.

It sure isn't this.
posted by blacklite at 10:25 PM on October 16, 2007

Reminds me a bit of this cryptophilately thread (unfortunately, links from that post all seem to be dead now).
posted by hattifattener at 10:27 PM on October 16, 2007

Anyone have any tips on designing fantasy currency? I've tried to design coins in photoshop, but to no avail. Its hard to make things look right for engraving/embossing and to get the metal feel.
posted by gandledorf at 10:04 AM on October 17, 2007

Great link, señor biggles!
posted by omarr at 11:01 AM on October 17, 2007

On a vaguely related note (no pun intended), the Baron Hotel in Aleppo, Syria has T. E. Lawrence's "unpaid"* tab framed and prominently displayed in their bar.

*I've often wondered how many unsuspecting old Brits have offered to pay the tab in honor of Lawrence.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:52 AM on October 17, 2007