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| During the Neonesian usurpation of 297-299, an attempt was made by the illegitimate government to withdraw all previous Altlandic currency and to substitute its own. Although this attempt was only partially success, over the two year period in question about two-thirds of the currency supply was converted into the form of nearly worthless "Neonesian" banknotes. Now (June 24, 299) scarcely two months after the restoration of the legitimate rule of His Altlandic Majesty, George II Victor, an entirely new currency, having the same international exchange value as that in circulation before the usurpation, has begun to be put into circulation. The fundamental unit of the Altlandic monetary system, the new one pende note pictured below, has just been issued and should soon, at the artificial conversion rate of one to each one thousand units of "Neonesian" currency, have succeeded in sweeping that currency from the market. The old currency will be recognized as legal tender until 31 August next, after which it will no longer be accepted in exchange for the new by the Bank of Altland. |
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| This is the first Altlandic banknote to feature a photographic portrait of the monarch. Avoided in earlier notes because it was then easier than an engraving to counterfeit, the complex line engraving has now been superseded by other security devices incorporated into the new notes, such as an invisible magnetized strip and a background pattern of unpredictable variation. This photographic portrait of the King, taken shortly after his restoration in May of this year, lends the otherwise very traditional design of the note an contemporary flavor. |
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| Another innovation in the design of the newly issued banknotes is the holographic watermark of the royal likeness barely visible in the cream-coloured oval at the right of the reverse face. The state version of the monarch's personal arms, without the escutcheon of pretense at the center of the shield and surmounted simply by the Crown of Romandia, has been chosen to appear in the oval a left. |
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 The design of the first of the new Altlandic coinage has just been released by the Overseer of the Royal Mint. The new one Pende piece, known traditionally as the "Crown," bears a crowned profile of His Altlandic Majesty, George II Victor on its obverse face and a wreath of roses surrounding a stylized representation of the "Crown of Midland" on it reverse face. The inscription on the obverse reads: GEORGIUS II VICTOR D.G. REX ALTLANDIAE. The inscription on the reverse is simply: ALTLAND/ CROWN. The obverse of all the coins of other denominations will be the same as that of the crown; the reverse faces of the other denominations will, however, be different for each. The Department of the Currency at the Chancellery for the Exchequer is, however, presently receiving designs from several numismatic sculptors. Proposed designs for the new Altlandic coinage should be forwarded to Mr. Karl Strijkar, Overseer of the Royal Mint, 250 King William Street, Midlburgh.] |