REGIONAL CURRENCIES A FUTURE FOR COINS AND BANKNOTES?

When visiting the Western German city of Bielefeld, you might find it hard to spot any attractions. Locals often tell their guest to visit neighboring cities when asked what sights a tourist should not miss within the city boundaries. However, if you happen to take a look at the ‘Bethel’ suburb of Bielefeld and buy something in the local bakery or bookstore, you will notice something of note; instead of the colourful Euro banknotes with the bridge portraits, Bethel natives usually pull out a different kind of currency. The €20 bill shows a former dorm and hospital building called ‘Groß Bethel’, which nowadays houses an academic centre; on the €50 note you can see the ‘Sarepta Motherhouse’,’ which looks like the boarding school ‘Hogwarts’ from the Harry Potter series. Any numismatic observer might also stumble upon the terms ‘scrip note’ and ‘Bethel-Euro’ on these intriguing pieces of paper money.

Bethel is just one of many places in Germany and across Europe that