Solar
| Solar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ISO 4217 | |
| Code | SOL |
| Denominations | |
| Plural | Solaris |
| Symbol | Ꞩ |
| Banknotes | Ꞩ5, Ꞩ10, Ꞩ20, Ꞩ50, Ꞩ100 |
| Coins | 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ 50¢, Ꞩ1, Ꞩ2 |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) |  Empire of Solraak |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Banco Central de Solraak (BCS) (En: Solraak Central Bank) |
| Printer | Imperial Palace of Soleil |
The Solar (Ꞩ) or Solaris, in the plural, is the official currency of the Empire of Solraak. It was created in 2023 in the so-called Solar Plan, but its first series was issued in January 2024 after the official signing of the documents that led to its creation. All the arts were designed by Emperor Henrque I himself. The inspirations were the Brazilian Real and the Euro for the creation of the arts on the Reverse of the coin, but the obverse features a simple and original aesthetic, with elements that reference the Solraqui culture.
Etymology
The origin of the name Solar goes back to the light of the Sun, of great symbolic significance for the micronation, and also alludes to the name of the Empire itself.
Solar Plan Subscription
At the Solraak Imperial Palace, on January 24, 2024, Emperor Henrque I signed Imperial Decree No. 01/2024, establishing the Solar as the official currency of the Solraak Empire. Inspired by the successful Brazilian real plan model, the decree aims to strengthen the Empire's economic stability and monetary system. According to the decree, the Solar (plural: solaris) is the official monetary unit, with the Centavo representing the hundredth part of a Solar. The Central Bank of Solraak (BCS) will be responsible for issuing, circulating and regulating the quantity of Solaris in circulation, aiming for economic stability and inflation control.
The decree also grants operational autonomy to the BCS to adopt monetary policies, such as interest rate control and interventions in the foreign exchange market, aiming to guarantee the stability of Solar and the imperial economy. Furthermore, the BCS will promote awareness campaigns about the importance of Solar as a national currency and the financial education of the imperial population. With the entry into force of this decree, Solar becomes legal tender throughout the territory of the Solraak Empire, being accepted as a means of payment in all commercial and financial transactions. Imperial Decree No. 01/2024 represents a significant milestone in strengthening the imperial economy and consolidating the Solraak monetary system, paving the way for a future of stability and economic growth.
Solar Plane Coins
Inspired by the Brazilian Real and the Euro, the reverse of the coins shows in a simplified way their value, country of origin, year of issue and in relief the Inverted America, an allusion to the work of Joaquín Torres García, a Uruguayan artist. His first family comes with the 2024 series.
Effigies of Solar Plane coins
- 1 cent: The Worker and the Peasant represent the people of Solraak and are a symbol of the appreciation of work, without distinction of gender.
- 5 centavos: Saint Luke the Evangelist and the ox, which symbolizes Christ's sacrifice, so well emphasized in Luke's Gospel. The ox was the highest sacrifice offered in the Temple of Jerusalem. Furthermore, the ox is also a symbol of patience, strength and service, virtues valued in the micronation.
- 10 centavos: Lyre, symbol of connection between earthly and divine, of erudition and spiritual elevation. It represents harmony, beauty and the ability to convey emotions and messages through music.
- 25 centavos: Crown of the Severine dynasty.
- 50 centavos: Coat of arms of the Imperial family simplified with laurel support and the crown of the Severine dynasty.
- 1 solar: Imperial Coat of Arms, national arms of the Solraak Empire.
- 2 solaris: Emperor Henry I, founder of Solraak.
Curiosities About Solar Coins
On the reverse it is possible to see "Inverted America", derived from the work of Joaquín Torres García. The star marks the geolocation of the Solraak Empire in Brazil Macro. Representing the world map in an inverted way, where the South is at the top and the North at the bottom, challenges the historically established Eurocentric convention.
Traditionally, maps were created with the North at the top, a perspective that reflects the political, economic and cultural hegemony of the Northern Hemisphere over the South. However, reversing this representation has significant political and historical implications:
- Decentralization of Power: The inversion of the world map challenges the Eurocentric vision that places the North as superior and dominant. By placing the South at the top, the importance and contribution of Southern nations to global history, politics, culture and economics is recognized.
- Mental Decolonization: The conventional representation of the world map reflects the interests and perspectives of European colonial powers. Flipping the map challenges this narrative and helps decolonize mindsets, highlighting the diversity and richness of the cultures and civilizations of the global South.
- Equity and Recognition: The inverted representation of the world map promotes equity and recognition of the nations and peoples of the South. This is especially relevant in a context where the South is often marginalized or underrepresented in global affairs.
- Alternative Geographic Perspective: Inverting the world map offers an alternative geographic perspective, allowing for a broader appreciation of the distribution of land and oceans. This can lead to a more holistic understanding of spatial and geopolitical relationships.
In short, the inverted representation of the world map challenges preconceived notions of power, colonialism and geographic centrality. It is an important tool to promote diversity, equity and recognition of the contributions of all regions of the world to history and human development.
Solar Plane Banknotes
Each banknote from the first family of Manor was designed by His Majesty Emperor Henry I, meticulously crafted to incorporate elements that celebrate the arts and cultural identity of Solraak, embracing its history and values. From the intricate artistic details to the advanced counterfeit protection technologies, each note is an expression of the excellence and integrity that define the Empire.
- 5 Solaris: features an effigy of Saint Luke the Evangelist, patron of Solraak, and the winged bull that represents him. This note commemorates Painting, because, according to Christian tradition, Saint Luke was the first iconographer, and would have painted the Virgin Mary, Peter and Paul. It comes with three saffron flowers, one of the most commonly used flowers for pigment extraction in the past and even today. The red stigmas of the saffron flower are used to extract an intense yellow-orange pigment, also used in cooking, especially in dishes from Mediterranean regions and the Middle East.
- 10 Solaris: celebrates the performing arts, with the typical masks of Greek theater, accompanied by four roses in a watermark. Masks in ancient Greek theater had multiple functions: identifying characters, amplifying the actors' voices, expressing emotions, connecting to the divine and participating in rituals. They were essential for theatrical representation, uniting the practical with the symbolic and connecting spectators to the characters and the divine world.
- 20 Solaris: this banknote celebrates music, featuring a lyre, a stringed musical instrument that has rich symbolism throughout history. Associated with Greek mythology, it is linked to Apollo, god of music and poetry, representing art and inspiration. Its harmony symbolizes balance and artistic expression, capable of connecting the human to the divine. Furthermore, in Ancient Greece, it was a symbol of education and culture, accompanying poets and musicians in their performances. The lyre transcends cultural boundaries, being an icon of sonic beauty and universal emotional expression. It comes with olive branches, a very important symbol for Solraak, which has a strong cultural influence from the Mediterranean.
- 50 Solaris: this note symbolizes sculpture and the art of working materials with the hands, as in the case of ceramics. The banknote features Greek pottery, famous for its aesthetic beauty and cultural and historical importance. Greek vases and pots were often decorated with scenes from mythology, everyday life, theater, and other aspects of Greek culture. These pots were used in various areas of Greek life, from practical functions, such as storage and transportation, to ceremonial and religious uses. You can also notice the three sunflowers, a tribute to the empress consort, who has this as her favorite flower.
- 100 Solaris: with the coat of arms of the imperial family, this banknote represents the Solraqui identity, the power of the Empire and its political sovereignty. Comes with three jasmine flowers.
The back of the notes features some noteworthy elements, such as the watermark with the official coat of arms of the empire, the presence of the representation of the globe with the south pole facing upwards, again the inspiration of the work "Inverted America", by Joaquín Torres Garcia.
