Bavarian money

Unfortunately, there's no direct link to this article in the current issue of Money Week:

The colourful notes of the "Chiemgauer", the unofficial local currency, are now accepted by 550 firms across the region, and some banks even accept Chiemgauer debit cards.

The currency, founded by a teacher, Christian Gelleri, in 2003, is one of 15 regional currencies to have emerged in Germany since the first Euros were printed five years ago.

Bavaria's long history of independence before the creation of modern Germany means many of its 500,000 inhabitants (surely some mistake?) see the Euro as a "distant plaything of the technocrats". (no mistake)

Over to you SNP!