Hiritsu

Hiritsu

Country	Sokoku
Code	SHI
Symbol	ヒ
Denominations
Subunit	100
Subunit name	Atari
Bank notes	5 - 10 - 20 - 50 - 100
Coins	0.05 - 0.10 - 0.20 - 0.50 - 1 - 2
Demographics
Official users	Sokoku
Unofficial users
Valuation
Inflation	2.8%

Hiritsu (ひりつ, also spelled Hiric) is the national currency of Sokoku. In Bahaso the word ひりつ usually stands for "rate" or "ratio", in the sense of price, amount, charge or figure. The ISO-code SHI and currency symbol ヒ are in common use for the currency, always preceding the value. The hiritsu is subdivided into 100 atari, always following the value. In spoken language, the word hiritsu is always used after the value.

History

Hiritsu was introduced in 7648 as a successor to the Gin (SGN) and Atagin (SAG) currencies which had been in use since the formation of Sokoku. The Gin was a continuation of the young currency of Shuuen. Due to the expansion of Sokoku, having the currency introduced in ever larger territories, had meant scarcity in cash and in some cases unbridled inflation. In 76XX it was reformed into the "new Gin" (Atagin) after the inclusion of the Aspasian colonial currency. Unlike other decolonized territories, Aspasia (Nelyasyat) had its own currency that was widespread around the area. Even though it used to be pegged to the Anisoran currency, it had its own intrinsique value that the Gin wanted to incorporate. However, the lack of monetary supervision meant that the currency had low status abroad and became subject to interstate differences that simply became too large to maintain. For example, an average wage in Taumakan was about 270 Atagin while it in rural Tanah Ek was around 25. Some products and services had more similar prices across the country, other had similar regional differences which not only led to unpredictable inflation but also a trek to the areas with the highest paying wages.

In 7648 the monetary laws and caps on state budgets were so effective the old Atagin could be phased out and replaced by the Hiritsu.

Notes

The banknotes have been issued in new versions between 7684 and 7689 including the most modern safety features. All notes have a rather heavily printed reverse side in three colors of ink in a fine moirée pattern, while the front side includes a portray of an important state's person in the same colors, but with a much lighter print. The back sides have more symbolic depictions, designed to include many safety features, and are only loosely based on real life examples.

The federal bank has chosen to limit the largest banknotes to 100 hiritsu in order to ban illegal and black market trade. Larger payments are only executed by bank transfers and bank cheques these days, giving authorities better opportunities to trace dodgy transactions, Since the older 200 and 500 hiritsu notes have been taken out of roulation early 7690, law enforcement, the treasury and the federal bank execute quite rigid background checks on anyone taking these older notes to a bank for deposit or exchange for new 100 notes.

There are plans to make 1 hiritsu notes as well, slowly replacing the coins that have an ever higher intrinsique value. Tests have however resulted in some doubts, since these small denominations tend to wear out very quickly, leading to higher costs for replacement.

Amount	Launched	Main colors	Front image	Back image
5	7688	Turquoise, cyan, orange	Kirisaki	Tropical rainforest
10	7685	Pink, lime green, dark green	Martin Fisks	Dragon
20	7687	Dark red, red, middle blue	Kamal Setiawan	Iztocan pyramid
50	7689	Purple, violet, dark yellow	Ashkii Mato	Lizehan temple complex
100	7684	Blue, lighter blue, orange	Chika Mirei	Volcanic island