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Global Barter / Europe / G018

Europe · Ariège, France · G018

Grain de Sel

Neighbours swap skills and goods, logged in 'grains of salt'.

Front of Grain de Sel: 60 Grains, inspired by Systèmes d'échange local (SEL), with actual Noun #69
Front · 150 × 75 mm
Back of Grain de Sel: the Systèmes d'échange local (SEL) tradition, how a note would work, and the traits of Noun #69
Back · the tradition

Security Edition v2

The same note set like a banknote: full engraved portrait of Noun #69, guilloche, watermark, thread, foil stripe and microtext, all printed art. What's on it

Security Edition front of Grain de Sel: a line-engraved portrait of the full actual Noun #69 in a guilloche oval beside a watermark window, thread and holographic-look stripe
Security Edition · front
Security Edition back of Grain de Sel: a color medallion of Noun #69 in a guilloche rosette, with the note's story
Security Edition · back
v2 front SVG ↓ v2 back SVG ↓

The tradition · since 1994

Systèmes d'échange local (SEL)

France's first système d'échange local started in Ariège in 1994, adapting Canada's LETS; hundreds followed, recording members' exchanges in local units often called grains de sel.

Source: Les systèmes d'échanges locaux (doctoral thesis, Université de Bordeaux, 2015; theses.fr) ↗

How a note would work

Members earn Grains by offering services, skills or goods listed in the local catalogue and spend them on other members' offers. Grains 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
  • PlaceAriège, France
  • Erasince 1994
  • RegionEurope
  • UnitGrain · Grains
  • Face value60 Grains
  • SerialGB-G018-N0069
  • NounActual Noun #69 ↗
  • Why this NounA film canister is the classic pocket jar for small grains, here a few grains of salt.
  • Headfilm 35mm
  • Glassessquare yellow saturated
  • Bodycold
  • Accessorybody gradient sunset
  • Seedbg 1 · body 4 · acc 23 · head 82 · glasses 20