Making money: How to start your own currency

By Teo Kermeliotis, for CNN
Updated 5:53 AM EDT, Fri August 1, 2014
The Brixton Pound was created in September 2009, originally as a physical paper currency. Two years later, it became a mobile pay-by-text service used by more than 250 local businesses.
Brixton Pound - UK —
The Brixton Pound was created in September 2009, originally as a physical paper currency. Two years later, it became a mobile pay-by-text service used by more than 250 local businesses.
Brixton Pound
David Bowie, who lived in Brixton from 1947 to 1953, was one of the local heroes featured in the second edition of Brixton Pounds that were unveiled in September 2011.
Brixton Pound - UK —
David Bowie, who lived in Brixton from 1947 to 1953, was one of the local heroes featured in the second edition of Brixton Pounds that were unveiled in September 2011.
Brixton Pound
Launched in 2012, the Bristol Pound is the United Kingdom's first city-wide local currency. In all, the country is home to five local currency schemes: Totnes, Lewes, Stroud, Brixton and Bristol.
Bristol Pound - UK —
Launched in 2012, the Bristol Pound is the United Kingdom's first city-wide local currency. In all, the country is home to five local currency schemes: Totnes, Lewes, Stroud, Brixton and Bristol.
Mark Simmons
"We're actually encouraging other towns and regions of the UK to start local currencies, and they can use all our systems," says Chris Sunderland, director of the Bristol Pound. "We've got the digital payment system that we're now developing, so others can just use it -- they don't have to go through quite the same development process," he adds. "And we know how to do the paper Bristol pounds so we can help with that as well."
Bristol Pound - UK —
"We're actually encouraging other towns and regions of the UK to start local currencies, and they can use all our systems," says Chris Sunderland, director of the Bristol Pound. "We've got the digital payment system that we're now developing, so others can just use it -- they don't have to go through quite the same development process," he adds. "And we know how to do the paper Bristol pounds so we can help with that as well."
Mark Simmons
Berkshares was launched in 2006 in the mountain community of Southern Berkshire, Massachusetts. Residents can use them at more than 400 local businesses.
Berkshares - United States —
Berkshares was launched in 2006 in the mountain community of Southern Berkshire, Massachusetts. Residents can use them at more than 400 local businesses.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images/file
They come in 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 denominations and feature local heroes, including "Moby Dick" author Herman Melville.
Berkshares - United States —
They come in 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 denominations and feature local heroes, including "Moby Dick" author Herman Melville.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images/file
In Germany, several local currencies have popped up in recent years. The most widespread is the Chiemgauer, a currency that started as a school project in southern Germany in 2003.
Chiemgauer - Germany —
In Germany, several local currencies have popped up in recent years. The most widespread is the Chiemgauer, a currency that started as a school project in southern Germany in 2003.
Chiemgauer eV/Friedrich Hechelmann/Michael Ende