FANTASY COINS

Above:  the limited edition of 4 notes of Al 'Tir, limited to 50 sets, with numerous extras added such as hologram, hand numbering, embossing.  The  bottom picture shows the reverse on this first edition release.

AL 'TIR ISLANDS 

Scientists discovered remains of a lost continent in the Indian Ocean.
This is "old news" to people who still live at the middle of this
continent.

We know the legends of Atlantis. Atlantis still remains a legend yet to be
proven. This smaller continent is not fully out of sight, not entirely
under water. The nations of Mauritius, The Seychelles and Madagascar and
many tiny dots of land in between, plus some Indian Ocean isles with
unfavorable climates, (too close to the South Pole), comprise the former
continent. This group claims many stories of Atlantis describe their
homeland.

Scientists say, over a million years ago, the "lost continent" bubbled
under the sea. These islanders mentioned above disagree. They claim
between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago the land suffered extreme earthquakes
and volcanoes. The islanders say their homeland may be a million years
old, but it was only 6,000 to 8,000 years ago when the land sank below the
waters of the Indian Ocean.

Islanders speak of a prosperous, highly-advanced people of various races,
with a race of "super people", tall and strong, called giants. Islanders
say religious writings hint at events that are a part of their oral history. These
include the race of giants in Noah’s day, before the earth’s flood. They
point to Goliath as a possible survivor. Noah's story of a worldwide-flood
and escape aboard a large ship mirrors the plight of the royal family from
this "lost continent".

(We do not claim the similar storyline is Biblical, nor do the islanders.
They only discuss similar details.)

These islanders claim their ancestors were seafarers who roamed the waters
of the world. They traded around the globe, and earned great wealth.

The land of this "lost continent" had abundant natural resources. Those
who lived there spoke about the international humanitarian aid they
provided in times of calamity, (no matter where on earth the need
existed.) They studied the stars and were great thinkers. Great importance
was paid to those who invented new ways to make life easier. Many of their
inventions predate what other men created in the past 200 years. And,
peace seemed to prevail although the continent exercised substantial
influence around the world.

They claim references to the "Garden of Eden" describe life on the
continent where every need was met.

Many species of animals that seem out of place were frequently native to
the lost continent. Islanders believe the The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was
revered on the continent. The loss of the Dodo's habitat drove them from
the continent and most-likely extinction.

Oral history says earthquakes followed by volcanic eruptions claimed the
lost continent. Some islanders say the earthquakes were caused by "a star
that crashed to earth" or an asteroid. The earthquakes destroyed the
continent and killed most people who lived there.

The royal family and entourage escaped while their subjects perished.
Legends say the royal family sailed from a point believed to be what is
now Europa Island, a plateau high in the mountains sliced by a
comma-shaped valley. As eruptions continued, the family and entourage
headed south to the once lush, wet and tropical Ile aux Cochons area.

The royal family sailed from the doomed land, and took refuge oceans away.
They came back and found their royal home, was now 16 very tiny dots of
land barely above the water.

These tiny islands are known today as the Cargados Carajos Shoals.

Oral history claims volcanic ash covered the earth, and the heat from the
volcanic activity caused portions of the earth to suffer. In many areas
populations starved and died. Legend speaks of heat, no fresh water, burnt
vegetation, and dead aquatic animals. Fish literally "cooked" in the
heated water. In many areas of earth all life died.

The earth returned to a normalized state, the royal family and their
servants returned to find their land, and people gone. There were only a
few peaks of the former mountain habitat above the water. The lack of land
above the surface did not discourage the people who were called "the gods
of the sea." They resettled and chose to subsist on what remained.

The remnants of the royal family and entourage live on a group of 16 tiny
islands. Satellite photos show these islands are scattered over an
underwater ridge some 15 miles long and up to 4 miles wide.

The islanders claim a number of islands currently under the rule of
recognized nations. These include Agalega, Cargados Carajos, Europa, Ile
aux Cochons, the Crozet Islands, the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova,
Bassas da India, Tromelin, Banc du Geyser and several underwater reefs.
The islands lie on a straight line north to south. Madagascar is wedged in
the center. It is noteworthy that Madagascar is not claimed. Most
islanders say the people of Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mauritius are
not original inhabitants, thus the islanders do not exercise a claim on
the nation. (Some skeptics argue the reason Madagascar is not challenged
is because of the 22 million people to defend their claim. The islanders
have a population of only 502 scattered over 11 of the 100 claimed
islands.)

The islands are not policed nor administrated by the islanders. This
places their claim in dispute. As the islanders speak of the claim, they
state these islands were once under their distant ancestor’s rule, and are
royal, sacred lands. Locals refer to the erection of lighthouses,
weather stations, and scientific study encampments, as intrusions and add,
“The land does not belong to them. They are squatters”.

It seems this tiny group of seafaring-island-dwellers want to be
recognized, possibly as a nation if only by their own assertion. Certainly
their claims require more than their oral history to establish
credibility.

MONEY

We don't know much about their money. Oral history says the leaders
created the concept of metal used to trade for goods. The traditions say
metals weighed less, and were less bulky than raw goods, thus islanders
learned to trade small amounts of colorful metal for raw materials. That
is when their commerce began to flourish.