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Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination

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Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination
Unit
NicknameQuid
Demographics
User(s)None

The Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination (QUID) is a proposed "space currency" created as a viral marketing campaign launched by Travelex with the London-based public relations and advertising firm, talkPR. The full name is a backronym from 'quid', a slang term for the British Pound.[1] The campaign stated that Travelex was launching a new form of money for space tourists that had no sharp edges, was chemically inert, and had other advantages over paper money.[1]

The QUID

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After coming up with the idea of a space-money campaign, talkPR and Travelex contacted the National Space Centre, whose employees were presented with a number of mockups made by the campaign artists and were asked to select one.

The end result was a series of circular clear discs with colored centers, symbolizing the eight planets of the Solar System inside, and denominations ranging from 1 to 10.[1] Each quid coin would have its own unique code number, similar to the serial number on paper currency, to allow tracking, and to prevent counterfeiting.[1] Travelex stated it planned to work with the Bank of England to begin registering the QUID as possible legal currency in the future.[1]

On October 5, 2007, a one-page press statement announcing the QUID was released and placed on the United Press International press release newswire.[1][2] The campaign was launched in the midst of intense press coverage of the Virgin Galactic news. The story was picked up by major news agencies in the UK,[3][4][5] and soon after, the US.[6][7] Science magazines and technological blog writers weighed in on the topic, calling it "useless" and "nonsense", further spreading the story.[6][7][8]

Statements by members of the NSC and the University of Leicester (who started the NSC) were added to the campaign release.[1] When the campaign concluded, NSC received the resulting coins and put them on display in their Space|Now display.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Travelex (2007). "Travelex Press Release". Travelex. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  2. ^ United Press International (2007). "Going into space? Better bring some quid". United Press International. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  3. ^ BBC News (October 5, 2007). "New currency for space travellers". BBC News. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  4. ^ Sky News (2007). "Quids In: New Space Currency Launched". Sky News. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  5. ^ Channel 4 News (2007). "Space currency named 'quids'". Channel 4 News. Retrieved October 9, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b John C. Dvorak (2007). "Cranky Geeks, Episode 85". Cranky Geeks Podcast. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Wired (October 8, 2007). "Useless Space Money Invented". Wired News. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  8. ^ Nature blog (2007). "'Space currency' nonsense". Nature. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
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