There is a double meaning to the word “currency”. For one, it refers to the money used within a particular country. The existence of casinos, and – most recently – the bitcoin, has proved that definition to be archaic. But the state of having currency also denotes a certain kind of acceptance, a validity to a certain claim. It appears that the government of Transnistria – a republic that split off Moldovia and does not enjoy international recognition – is “banking” on both meanings.

A first worldwide, the region has introduced a new currency whose coins are based on composite materials. Not only will they be the first of their kind world-wide, they will also set themselves apart from other, common currencies in that their geometric shape will differ. It remains to be seen whether this new coin will lend more currency to Transnistria’s claims to statehood…