FANTASY COINS
Subtitle
NUIKVISS AOI BANKNOTES
1 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
2 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
5 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
10 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
25 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
50 Lun Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
1 Aul Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
2 Aul Undated In Grey & Black uniface on gold painted paper
Above notes are no longer available
NUIKVISS AOI COINS
2 Aul 2009
Notes: Originally planned as a 550 coin release featuring 100 of each in yellow and 10 in blue for each of the 5 Mermaid designs, the actual numbers included green, yellow-green, yellow, blue and dark blue versions in numbers ranging from 5 to 20. Some were considered trials. Each of the painted clay coins vary in quality and size.
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IMAGES
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NEWS FROM OVER A YEAR AGO ARRIVES in July 2013...
The 292 residents of the North Atlantic outpost, Nuikviss Aoi, approved an island-wide vote to resettle following the demise of their shipping service. Over 80% of voters approved the relocation.
The relocation plan has been afoot the past several years but the proposal had been just talk until the Johanssen Shipping Company advised the islanders they would no longer be making stops at the slender strip of land where a history of some 350 shipwrecks have plagued the dangerous waters.
Johanssen Transport, a small shipping company, has provided shipping and transport service to the islanders for more than six decades. “Sadly“, according to Leif Johanssen, president of the shipping line, “the economy has taken its toll on some of the less productive routes. My father had a soft spot for the Nuikviss Aoi people, but alas, it is with great sadness I must cut the service to several remote islands, including Nuikviss Aoi. I think I have found an alternative service for some of these islands but not on such a regular schedule”.
The reality was the regular shipping service was not profitable for the company although they frequently would ‘break-even’ or get quite close to doing so.
For Nuikviss Aoi, the lack of a regular shipping service was a death knell for the islanders.
A plan was hatched to attempt to relocate in the Shetland Islands. Many of these outer island communities are suffering from a population demise and would welcome new settlers. After some formal meetings and negotiations, real estate was purchased and details were worked up.
For the islanders of Nuikviss Aoi, the solution is not perfect but the positives far outweigh the negatives. They will need to hatch plans to earn a living, cope with a myriad of new laws and regulations, adapt and as one point out, pay taxes.
Some of the pluses include medical care can be quickly reached. The telephone will let them communicate. Formal schooling and several more amenities such as access to more goods and products were certainly positive points.
On the negative side, it was noted children will likely not be on par with the level of education in the Shetlands and they realize the islanders will have to adapt to another lifestyle.
The Shetland outer islands were selected because the lifestyle would not be as much of a shock to the Nuikviss Aoi lifestyle.
Although resettlement will occur by summer 2012, some will stay behind. About a dozen hearty residents are fixed on making do regardless.
Part of the plan requires the islanders to raze unoccupied structures to return the settled areas to a natural state.
That plan got the interest of die-hard residents who refuse to leave. Departing residents can sign over ownership to a resident staying behind but that resident must raze their old home after a certain time. Residents choosing to leave have a specific time frame to return to the island if they choose to do so. In that case, their property reverts back to the original owners.
Nuikviss Aoi enters a new era with loved ones and friends moving away and a hearty few who stay behind.
One resident staying behind says transportation will not be much of an issue because of the population, noting most ships are not so full that a pallet of goods for Nuikviss Aoi will not fit aboard. The resident noted medical evacuations were normally done by a passing ship and the number of passing ships has changed little in recent years. Those staying behind think the shipping service will not present the problems other islanders think it will.
The move is to take place in July.
Nuikviss Aoi has been in decline for decades. With the advent of better transportation, some young people have sought higher education opportunities off the island and after earning their degrees sought mainland employment in lieu of returning to the island. That alone cause the island’s population to age. In addition, seeking properly trained outsiders to tend to certain duties became more competitive, meaning the islanders sometimes had to do without needed services. As one islander put it, “It was the writing on the wall we were too proud to read until it was too late.”
Those remaining say they’re too set in their ways and refuse to experience the upheaval of relocation. Regardless of the hardships they will face, they feel their life is on Nuikviss Aoi for better or worse. Some speculate the island will be completely depopulated while some think some relocated families will return. In either case, history in these islands has demonstrated the isolated life almost always loses out. Time will show if Nuikviss Aoi will join the ranks of the many currently uninhabited islands that were once vibrant communities in decades past.
ABOUT NUIKVISS AOI
Nuikviss Aoi is a place of legends. Those legends come from the visitors, and the local population. Nuikviss Aoi means Mermaid Island and its reputation arrived prior to the local population and still lives today.
For as long as sailing vessels have taken to this part of the North Atlantic, there have been tales of mermaids. Most come from survivors of the terrible storms that frequent the area or they survived a shipwreck.
Through the ages there have been tales of half woman, half fish creatures. In some regions mermaids are an omen of danger or death. In some tales, the mermaid lures the sailor, keeping the man underwater until they drown. The list goes on.
The settlers of Nuikviss Aoi were shipwrecked themselves. It is thought they were a part of the wave of settlers going to Iceland. As they neared Nuikviss Aoi during a strong North Atlantic storm, the ship struck the rocky outcrops just below the water’s surface.
Nuikviss Aoi is a long narrow island some 27 miles long and not more than a mile wide. The total land area is just 12 square miles. Cartographers have argued for years about whether Nuikviss Aoi should be a single island or 13 smaller islands. The argument arises from the terrain. Nuikviss Aoi is mostly a sandbar. There are areas that are rather rocky with a bit higher elevation. The island is connected except in some high tides when Nuikviss Aoi breaks into a string of thirteen islands. Storms have frequently separated Nuikviss Aoi into the classic 13 sections. The debate remains whether Nuikviss Aoi is one or many islands.
Nuikviss Aoi has yet another geographic claim to fame. It is one of the only non-topical islands with, more or less, a lagoon. Much like a string of pearls, the island is oval with an opening on the east end. The shallow lagoon offers little protection to ships during storms as the wind is able to blow across the thin land mass. In fact, it has been written in ship’s logs from previous centuries, Nuikviss Aoi’s curse in the sense of safety the lagoon offers. It has been said if a ship manages to survive the storm, the undercurrent has shifted the sand underneath the surface, lessening the chances of a safe return.
The rolling hills and numerous ponds of fresh water make Nuikviss Aoi a strikingly beautiful place in good weather but a nightmare in bad weather. A windy place even in good weather, the island is swept by gale force winds and precipitation almost 20 days per month, on an annual basis.
The shallow waters around Nuikviss Aoi make the island a maritime hazard and is still a tricky spot with great nautical maps. Factor in strong winds and sheets of rain or frozen precipitation and Nuikviss Aoi downright dangerous. It is thought more than 350 vessels have met there demise here over the centuries.
The mermaid legend was around before the island was settled, but it became front and center when two of the surviving male settlers claimed they saw mermaids.
The average person dismisses the mermaid as a myth. Nuikviss Aoi does not dismiss this thinking but there are enough accounts to make one believe there might just be mermaids.
I must inject some commentary here. Some claim to have seen beings not of this planet and say they were examined by these aliens. Why is it the story is always the same? There are so many details that are the same that you sort of wonder. Then there is Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Each have resulted in many similar details over the decades or centuries. Are the first-hand accounts containing enough common details that we have to question if there might be something to this?
Nuikviss Aoi is a hotbed for mermaid accounts. Stranded sailors have reported seeing mermaids. Even the locals have claimed such. Mostly the locals claim to see evidence. This evidence is something brought from the seas onto land. There is simply no explanation.
In short, the accounts of mermaid sightings and contacts on or near Nuikviss Aoi have some common threads. Accounts a century apart even give identical details. In fact, it can be said there are seven types of mermaids around Nuikviss Aoi. They all have names and distinct personalities.
Alfrún
Alfrún is the future-telling mermaid who views the future through the glass fishing floats found amid the waters. This alluring mermaid is quite beautiful but the most feared of all the mermaids. Her predictions always come to pass. When she cannot tell someone, she brings something ashore, placing it at a spot beyond the reach of the high tide. Alfrún usually brings bad news but she has predicted births and their sex. It is said that Alfrún has brought glass fishing floats and other various items to the outskirts of settlements. Locals point out that these items are found beyond the high tide point and had to have been carried ashore. Some say it was just children playing a trick, but items have been found when everyone was home, so some accounts remain a mystery.
Ginna
Ginna is the sexy young mermaid so beautiful men can barely resist her beauty. Some sailors have claimed their buddies would not swim for the surface as if spellbound by Ginna. She is said to have a sweet scent that lingers about you for some time after coming out of the water. Ginna is considered dangerous because of her beauty and charm. She seems to long for a man to stay with her but at the same time she seems to tease. A local tale says her good favor can be hard with the lure of shiny yellow, blue or green objects such as a piece of gold, a sapphire or emerald. A local tale speaks of Ginna. It seems Ginna will come to lure boys who are full of themselves. She lures them to the sea and they are so spellbound they are helpless. Ginna keeps her ‘boy toy’ as a servant to her whims, never to return to his family and carefree life above the water.
Frakokk
Frakokk is the outgoing, friendly and giving mermaid. She swims with the dolphins and seems carefree. She is quite charming in her innocence. Frakokk is been said to be about like a 15 to 16 year old teenage girl, full of life but not well versed in the lessons of life. She seems innocent, a bit awkward and lacking the teachings of life. Even so, she is the first to spot someone or something in trouble and the first to come to their rescue. There are many accounts of her lifting sailors out of the water and leading them to land. She loves to sing and is frequently heard on stormy nights singing. Ljufa has been seen leading the men to a good fishing spot or warning them to return to shore. In short, she is the mothering mermaid and always found amid schools of other underwater species
Dísa
Dísa is a more petite mermaid with long thick flowing hair. She also rescues sailors. She talks and chatters, telling the sailor tossed in the sea to grab her hair for a ride to the shore. She is a very mesmerizing singer. She loves to sing in an unknown language. Survivors say her lyrics in an unknown tongue are as comforting as a mother’s voice to a scared infant. Dí sa has been known to guide the stray vessel through the maze of rocky outcrops just below the surface at night. Some have claimed she has the ability to illuminate herself much like a firefly.
Dagmær
Dagmær is the child-like mermaid. Her youthful face and actions are like those of a young child. She flutters and chatters, smiling and playing. She tries to get the poor sailor to play. As the man struggles to reach the shore, she swims around the person over and over in an attempt to get the man to play a game. As the man reaches the shore she sings a mournful song survivors call a song that can bring you to tears. Even though the words are not understood, they are felt. The lyrics, the accounts say, form a sad song where she says she will always remember you and yearn for you to return although you never will. She seems the most limber of all the mermaids around Nuikviss Aoi.
Sölveig
Sölveig is a rare golden yellow mermaid that seems to shimmer in the waters and at least one sailor claimed she was illuminated at night. She has been seen on land late at night. She is silent but expressive in her facial features, seeming to appear sad when one does not understand her gestures. She is known as the ‘tag along’, always trying to hold on to the sailor, seeming to be very lonely.
Totra
Totra is the name of the mother of a ridiculously ignorant family that refused to wear clothes. She does not seem to even realize she is a mermaid. She is the scary mermaid to children. Over the ages, she has been noted coming to the windows of homes, peering into the window, trying to motion for the children to come with her. Although she has never taken a child, some wonder her intent…if she might be looking for a missing child.
These mermaids seem to be the protectors of the island and waters around the island. They seem to warn of bad things before they happen and other mysterious messages seem to remain unknown. The mermaids as a whole are considered friendly but their sightings are normally not a sign of good. They ten to show up at man’s time of need.
Nuikviss Aoi has 459 people mostly living in the three villages. There are 4 homes outside the villages. There are 136 homes on the island. The people are generally a mix of northern countries in and near Scandinavia with Scandinavian heritage being the biggest percentage. The people tend to subscribe to typical Scandinavian lifestyles and culture, adjusted for the isolation and small social scale. The language is Firdiskt which is quite similar to Old Norse, although some think it is a separate dialect. The islanders are generally multi-lingual, speaking their own language and at least one other fluently enough to have no problem conversing or writing a native speaker. Icelandic, Faroese, Gaelic, Norwegian and English are the primary secondary languages with Gaelic and English being the most common.
As for a specific culture or heritage, there is little that is remarkable. The population seemed more concerned with survival than culture. Even so, a few societal traits are fairly unique.
The people consider anything not useful to sustaining life on the island to be vain. It is thought this is derived from Christian teachings. If the item is not needed in everyday life, it is considered a negative attraction designed to divert one away from the job at hand. This is explained in writings of visits from wealthy who adorn themselves with items that islanders see as not practical and designed to delegate unneeded attention to oneself or to elevate the person above others. Thus, clothing is for keeping warm and protecting one from the elements, not a fashion statement or a symbol of status. The attitude prevails in all aspects of life. Excess and flashiness is considered a form of vanity.
The only true festival of sorts is the celebration of Midsummer on the longest day of the year. Locals prepare for months, trying to bring something unique to the crowd. New clothing is always a part of this event and an exchange of gifts of little value is always a part of this event that generally goes a couple of days, so long as the weather holds. The date can vary due to weather. In the event of stormy weather, the event kicks off on the next sunny day.
On such an outpost, one must learn to entertain themselves. With long nights and days of stormy weather, keeping the mind occupied is crucial. Those on Nuikviss Aoi are storyteller-singers. Songs are stories ranging from a couple of minutes to almost a quarter hour. The art of the story-song is the emotion the singer shows. It is not unlike telling spooky stories around a campfire at night. There are songs for all ages from learning to life lessons, to historical and fantasy. From spooky to warm, gentle songs, they are sung to familiar melodies without accompaniment. They are even used in school to teach children. Hymns are a part of daily life as well.
Entertainment is very low key and basic. In the village, women might gather to do chores and enjoy conversation. Men will do the same. In the evening, stories and songs are the typical family entertainment.
Speaking of hymns, the population is Christian and regular services are held. Villagers assemble in homes or common buildings. There must have been some contact at some point with the British Isles as the hymns are sections of the Psalms, a characteristic of a Presbyterian sect originating there.
Schooling is handled by residents. Because of the cost and hassle of poor transportation, classes are either taught by local residents or are received by radio. Education is very important to the islanders. This includes instruction on the knowledge needed to be self-sufficient and academic instruction. Knowledge is considered very valuable and the key to a good life. It is felt that the more knowledge one has the better equipped the person is to handle emergencies and unexpected situations.
Healthcare is frequently provided by a visiting ship. In a medical emergency, any ships in the area that can tend to the problem are hailed by radio. A couple of companies provide for regular stops for medical check-ups and regular dental and optical exams. These services are paid for in cash and/or services and products by the families.
Homes are constructed of wood and stone. Village homes are plumbed but outhouses are still in use.
Commerce is not so much in the form of storefronts. Most people have a list of customers who come to them because they are known to be especially good at a certain trade. In the village, various goods and products are sold, usually at a common building in the village. Saturday is a popular day for selling at common buildings. In many respects it resembles a flea market or farmer’s market in the USA.
Fishing is a primary occupation and the waters around Nuikviss Aoi are teeming in quantity and species of aquatic creatures. It is likely the waters will remain teeming with fish although Nuikviss Aoi claims a 200 mile economic zone as their territory. Some of this zone is within waters claimed by other governments and Nuikviss Aoi officials refuse to resolve the dispute stating their claim is beyond dispute. By refusing to negotiate, no company is willing to sign a fishing agreement although some individual fishing vessels have negotiated minimal fees to fish the more immediate waters. Most of these vessels provide the needed transport for what little trade the island has secured. With no budget to enforce the claim to these waters, it is not likely the claim will ever be resolved.
Nuikviss Aoi has been visited. The Germans, during World War II used Nuikviss Aoi as somewhat of a submarine base. Although a minor base, the few stationed there said the residents welcomed the soldiers with open arms and enjoyed a brisk trade.
The threat of storms keeps Nuikviss Aoi isolated and it is not likely the quiet life on the island will be marred by tour ships or frequent visits from the shipping community.
Nuikviss Aoi is fairly self-sufficient. Sheep are raised, providing ample material for clothing and cattle are raised for primarily milk and cheese. Cheese and bread is a dietary staple. Fish is the primary ‘meat’ consumed.
With only a couple of small trucks and a few small tractors, transportation on the island is poor at best. Travel from point to point is a major headache. Vehicles can bog down as they follow trails. There are no roads and trucks generally go cross country from point to point. Survival gear and food and water are essential for any trip. A sudden storm may mean stranding a vehicle for days. It can take hours to travel only a few miles and after long storms and a person may need to walk ahead of the truck to determine the best route because a low spot could cause a truck to sink to its axles.
Nuikviss Aoi has a climate that is cold, windy and wet. Snow is limited to a few days a year but freezing rain or sleet is more frequent. Typically a cold rain is the rule. The wind constantly blows and averages over 20 miles per hour throughout the year. Weather conditions can change very rapidly. While temperatures average around 40 degrees F. in winter and 60 degrees in summer, extremes generally do not exceed 20 degrees from the averages. There is some precipitation on about 40% of the days in the year and winter storms can last for many days. Hail is not uncommon in the more vibrant storms and hurricane force winds have been known in the most severe storms. Sunny and calm days are generally an excuse for the whole island to take a holiday.
NUIKVISS AOI MONEY
The catalog of coins from Nuikviss Aoi is short with only one release. The single release consists of a set of clay tokens in the denomination of 2 Aul. There are ten clay tokens: 5 are adorned in a metallic blue while the basic token comes in one color, a yellow-orange. There are five different designs with an adorned and unadorned coin for each design.
The first minting was limited to 10 of each of the adorned and 100 of each of the plain version.
Several Trial Versions and a Pre-Numbered version were made. The Pre-Numbered was limited to 5 in each of the two colors, “Lemon” and “Turquoise”.
The design is intricate and quite stunning.
There had been a few paper notes that circulated but they seemed to have been made for collectors. The number was very few, not more than a total of 500 notes were made. It is thought all were quickly snapped up. The notes were created on handmade crinkled paper that had a gold paint on the printed side. The printing was faint and difficult to read except in the right light. The notes were in several denominations. This issue is no longer circulated. Few made it off the island.
As the Mermaid coin release was planned, several trials were made in the form of short runs of 5 to 20 of each. None made the ‘cut’ for the release.
A new release with seven named mermaids is in the planning stages.
The information in this brochure is compiled by Bill Turner. Several internet and print sources were utilized in researching this article. There is much more still to learn about Nuikviss Aoi. Compiled 2009.