20 ice mark note
The 20 ice mark note will be the first denomination of ice marks to be issued by the Central Bank of Westarctica. As such, it is intended to become the first legal tender paper currency ever created by Westarctica. While the banknote itself has been approved, the specific design and features have yet to be finalized. The Westarctican government anticipates an initial release of between 600 and 1,000 20 ice mark banknotes.
History
The note was designed by the Baron of Bastanchury in his capacity as Commissioner of the Treasury. There was significant debate about backing the ice marks with some real commodity, such as silver, but this was ultimately rejected as financially unfeasible.
The Central Bank has not yet announced the proposed exchange rate for the marks.
Characteristics
The paper
The 20 ice mark note is 70 mm x 140 mm in size (2.75 in x 5.5 in). It has been printed on 75% cotton rag, 25% linen paper, the same fiber content as that of American banknotes. It contains red and blue fibers, has a weight of 85 GSM (grams per square meter) making it only slightly more dense/ heavy that typical office copy paper, and has no optical brighteners. The paper is waterproof and acid-free, and has a set of security features.
Obverse
The obverse (face) of the note has an engraved rendering of the Grand Duke on its left side. Above this appears the symbol for "ice mark" (the snowflake) followed by the number "20" before a guilloche pattern. Below the face of the Grand Duke appear his signature and the signature of the Commissioner of the Treasury. The issuing bank, the Central Bank of Westarctica, appears in vertical text just to the left of these.
To the right along the top are the words "This note is legal tender for all debts within Westarctica" below the words "Twenty Westarctican Ice Marks" in larger font; closer to the bottom is the note's QR code box. In the top right is the note's serial number directly above an engraved rendering of the Lesser Shield. On top of the shield appears a 5-point guilloche "star" and the number "20". On the far right in the middle in black font is the year of printing of the note.
Reverse
The reverse (back) of the note is dominated by a star chart of the southern hemisphere showing most of its prominent stars and asterisms. In the top left is a stylized "20" in front of a guilloche pattern. Below this is the German name of the note, "Zwantig Eismark" above the name of the Central Bank in German: "Zentralbank von Westarctica". Further right is a silhouette of the continent of Antarctica with the Westarctican wedge highlighted. Just below the geometric center of the note appear the worlds "Fortune favors the Bold", the country's motto. To the right of this is a dark strip containing a series of very small yellow "20"s oriented vertically. To the right of this is another "20" before another guilloche pattern.