CURRENCY BUILDER

Global Barter / The Americas / G082

The Americas · Tlatelolco, Mexico City, Mexico · G082

Cacao Bean

Cacao beans as small change in a market built on barter.

Front of Cacao Bean: 10 Beans, inspired by Cacao beans in Aztec markets, with actual Noun #75
Front · 150 × 75 mm
Back of Cacao Bean: the Cacao beans in Aztec markets tradition, how a note would work, and the traits of Noun #75
Back · the tradition

Security Edition v2

The same note set like a banknote: full engraved portrait of Noun #75, guilloche, watermark, thread, foil stripe and microtext, all printed art. What's on it

Security Edition front of Cacao Bean: a line-engraved portrait of the full actual Noun #75 in a guilloche oval beside a watermark window, thread and holographic-look stripe
Security Edition · front
Security Edition back of Cacao Bean: a color medallion of Noun #75 in a guilloche rosette, with the note's story
Security Edition · back
v2 front SVG ↓ v2 back SVG ↓

The tradition · c. 14th–16th c.

Cacao beans in Aztec markets

In Aztec markets such as Tlatelolco, much trade was barter, with cacao beans as small change; a 16th-century record valued a turkey hen at 100 beans and a tamale at one.

Source: A Brief History of Chocolate (Smithsonian Magazine) ↗

How a note would work

Beans are earned by bringing goods to a market swap, used as small change to even out trades, and spent on food or crafts. They are never bought or cashed out.

Design concept inspired by this tradition, not issued by or for the people who keep it. Not legal tender, not for sale, no cash value, no redemption and no investment rights.

Front SVG ↓ Back SVG ↓ Machine edition
  • PlaceTlatelolco, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Erac. 14th–16th c.
  • RegionThe Americas
  • UnitBean · Beans
  • Face value10 Beans
  • SerialGB-G082-N0075
  • NounActual Noun #75 ↗
  • Why this NounThe closest thing in the Nouns pantry to a cacao bean is its coffee-bean cousin.
  • Headcoffeebean
  • Glassessquare magenta
  • Bodygrayscale 7
  • Accessorybling gold ingot
  • Seedbg 0 · body 11 · acc 10 · head 53 · glasses 12