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Global Barter / Oceania & the Pacific / G057

Oceania & the Pacific · Lau Lagoon, Solomon Islands · G057

Saltwater Market

Lagoon fish traded for inland taro, yams and almonds.

Front of Saltwater Market: 5 Nets, inspired by Saltwater–bush markets of the Lau, with actual Noun #24
Front · 150 × 75 mm
Back of Saltwater Market: the Saltwater–bush markets of the Lau tradition, how a note would work, and the traits of Noun #24
Back · the tradition

Security Edition v2

The same note set like a banknote: full engraved portrait of Noun #24, guilloche, watermark, thread, foil stripe and microtext, all printed art. What's on it

Security Edition front of Saltwater Market: a line-engraved portrait of the full actual Noun #24 in a guilloche oval beside a watermark window, thread and holographic-look stripe
Security Edition · front
Security Edition back of Saltwater Market: a color medallion of Noun #24 in a guilloche rosette, with the note's story
Security Edition · back
v2 front SVG ↓ v2 back SVG ↓

The tradition · pre-colonial; into 20th c.

Saltwater–bush markets of the Lau

On north-east Malaita, the Lau 'saltwater people' bartered fish and marine products with inland 'bush people' for taro, yams, Canarium almonds and forest goods at coastal markets.

Source: Malaita (Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Encyclopedia.com) ↗

How a note would work

Nets are earned by bringing fish or garden food to a boundary market and spent on what the other community grows or catches. 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
  • PlaceLau Lagoon, Solomon Islands
  • Erapre-colonial; into 20th c.
  • RegionOceania & the Pacific
  • UnitNet · Nets
  • Face value5 Nets
  • SerialGB-G057-N0024
  • NounActual Noun #24 ↗
  • Why this NounA lagoon-and-reef creature for the saltwater side of the market.
  • Headsquid
  • Glassessquare yellow saturated
  • Bodygrayscale 9
  • Accessorytxt lmao
  • Seedbg 0 · body 13 · acc 114 · head 197 · glasses 20