Laeralian mark
| mark | |
|---|---|
| Unit | |
| Plural | marks |
| Symbol | 分 |
| Denominations | |
| Subunit | |
| 1⁄100 | fen |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | 分1, 分2, 分5, 分10, 分50, 分100, 分500, 分1000 |
| Rarely used | 分2000, 分10,000 |
| Coins | |
| Freq. used | 分0.10, 分0.25, 分0.50, 分1, 分2, 分5 |
| Demographics | |
| Date of introduction | 1974 |
| User(s) | Laeral |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Bank of Laeral |
| Valuation | |
| Inflation | 4.1% |
| Source | 2022 |
The Laeralian mark (Code: LRM, Symbol: 分, French: Marque Laeralien, Mandarin: Sīchóuguó fēn) is the official currency of Laeral. The basic unit of the currency is the mark, which is divided into 100 fen, or cents. The current Laeralian mark replaced the old or "Republican" mark in 1974 at a rate of 1000 to one due to hyperinflation following the Great War.
History
The old or Republican mark was instituted in 1924 by the Republic of Laeral, replacing the Laeralian florin. Although the Republican mark was only devalued once, following the Bloody Summer, inflation had been a persistent problem throughout the Republican Era; prior to devaluation in 1955, an average day's wages for an unskilled laborer were around 分400. Following the Great War, the hyperinflation of the Republican Mark and the desire to move away from institutions of the Republican Era led to the issuance of the new Laeralian mark on January 1, 1974 at a rate of 1000:1 with the old Republican Mark.
Subsequent, more fiscally-conservative governments and the institution of market-based economic reforms have resulted in low inflation and a positive balance-of-payments, strengthening the mark compared to global peer and reserve currencies. The exchange rate compared to the Sanctarian pound has fluctuated from around 20 to one in the 1970s to around 1.40 to one as of July 2023.
Coins
| Denomination | Obverse | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| 10 fen | Plum blossom | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin |
| 25 fen | Twin cornucopias | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin |
| 50 fen | Clasped hands with pen and brush | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin |
| 分1 | Duck with ducklings | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin, surrounded by floral wreath |
| 分2 | Traditional riverboat | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin, surrounded by bamboo |
| 分5 | Snow leopard | Value, date, "Laeral" in French and Mandarin, surrounded by birds in flight |
Banknotes
There have been three full-series printings of the mark (in 1974, 1995, and 2013) as well as several commemorative printings: a 2000 printing honoring Laeralian writers and playwrights, a 2007 分10 note honoring the warrior Han Guiying, a 2015 printing honoring notable women in Laeralian history, and a forthcoming 2022 分5 note honoring the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Laeral. Each bill features an individual's portrait on the obverse and a depiction of an allegorical figure or object on the reverse.
| Denomination | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 分1 | Réne Gramont, founder of the Republic of Laeral | Outline of Laeral with plum blossom branch, writer's brush, and pen | Josette |
| 分2 | François Guiraud, first president of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral | Summer Court palace (1974), Republic House (1995, 2013) | Snow leopard |
| 分5 | Sun Jia-wei, final president of the Republic of Laeral | Laeralian industrial workers (1974, 2013), female engineer in a nuclear power plant (1995) | Leaping carp |
| 分10 | Sun Liang, precolonial emperor | Agricultural workers in a field (1974), agricultural workers at rest (1995), agricultural workers in field with passing train (2013) | Orchid |
| 分20 | G.E. Lematre, revolutionary leader (1974), civil rights advocate Hua Mingrui (1995, 2013) | Laeralian military aircraft (1974), Soldier during the Laeralian Revolution (1995), Laeralian soldiers in military parade (2013) | Dove of peace |
| 分50 | Education: Educational reformer Georgette Vivier (1974), Moralist philosopher Feng Shun (1995, 2013) | Children in a classroom (1974), schoolboy studying book (1995), schoolchildren writing in notebooks (2013) | Mount Yulin |
| 分100 | Musical and artistic achievements: architect Maurice Ho (1974), composer Germain Deschamps (1995, 2013) | Orchestral performance (1974), View of the Zhongshui river valley (1995, 2013) | Bamboo |
| 分500 | Technology: chemist Adolphe Durant (1974), astronomer Louis-Edouard de Payen (1995), physicist Qian Ruiwen (2013) | Rocket taking flight (1974), space capsule (1995, 2013) | Microscope |
| 分1000 | Laeralian flag waving (1974), naturalists and poets Jacob and Sylvie Nicolle-Yan (1995, 2013) | Independence Gate in Laeralsford (1974, 1995), Laeralian folk festival (2013) | Minjian temple |