A little wonder, every day

Ithaca had its own community currency

Титульна AI-згенерована реконструкція обміну місцевими грошима на ринку Ітаки / AI-generated cover illustration reconstructing a local-currency exchange at an Ithaca market.

Scan of a 1991 one-HOUR note from the Ithaca HOURS archive maintained by founder Paul Glover; the note shows “One Hour” and a Lick Brook image.

Scan of a 1992 quarter-HOUR note; shows the denomination and a distinct design.

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Титульна AI-згенерована реконструкція обміну місцевими грошима на ринку Ітаки / AI-generated cover illustration reconstructing a local-currency exchange at an Ithaca market.

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In 1991, the city of Ithaca, New York, introduced local paper money called Ithaca HOURS. It was designed for exchange among community participants: one “Hour” represented an hour of basic labor, with a nominal value set at $10. It was a voluntary local system, not a currency with the status of the U.S. dollar.