Global Barter / Oceania & the Pacific / G067
Oceania & the Pacific · Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay, PNG · G067
Gimwali Market
Everyday haggling barter that runs beside the ceremonial kula.
Security Edition v2
The same note set like a banknote: full engraved portrait of Noun #68, guilloche, watermark, thread, foil stripe and microtext, all printed art. What's on it
The tradition · pre-colonial; ongoing
Gimwali barter alongside the kula ring
The kula is ceremonial exchange: partners pass named shell valuables around a ring of islands for prestige. Trobriand Islanders keep it apart from gimwali, the ordinary haggling barter of goods.
Source: Reciprocity & Exchange: The Kula Ring (Human Relations Area Files, Yale University) ↗
How a note would work
Yams are earned by bringing food or crafts to a market day and spent on other islanders' goods; they cover everyday barter only, never ceremonial gifts. 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.
- PlaceTrobriand Islands, Milne Bay, PNG
- Erapre-colonial; ongoing
- RegionOceania & the Pacific
- UnitYam · Yams
- Face value10 Yams
- SerialGB-G067-N0068
- NounActual Noun #68 ↗
- Why this NounSaturn's ring echoes the ring of islands that kula voyages travel, where gimwali barter goes on alongside.
- Headsaturn
- Glassessquare watermelon
- Bodyredpinkish
- Accessoryrain
- Seedbg 1 · body 24 · acc 74 · head 184 · glasses 18