The news feeds on this site are independently provided by Adfero Limited © and do not represent the views or opinions of the World Gold Council.

Friday, 20th June 2008 (1272 views)

A campaigner attempting to secure independence for the island of Forvik plans to implement solid gold currency for his new republic.

According to the Telegraph, 65-year-old Stuart Hill's independent Forvik - also known as Forewick Holm - would discard the British pound for solid gold coins called gulde.

Mr Hill, who settled on the island in 2001 after his home-made boat capsized west of the Shetland islands during an attempt to circumnavigate Britain, wants to reassert the island's affinity with Norway by breaking away from the UK.

He is calling for the Shetland islands to declare independence from Britain on the grounds that its legal ownership of the territory has no formal proof.

"It's all jolly good fun" he told the newspaper.

"Every pensioner should do something like this."

Gold is thought to be the oldest international currency in the world, being used in the Middle Ages in Europe as well as ancient Mediterranean societies.

 

« Back to Gold News stories