L'Argent Louisiannais

Pre-Decimalization

The Louisian was the Louisiannan currency up until the release in an CCXII (2004) of the écu. When originally valued against other currencies in 1 Vendémiaire LIX (23/09/1850), three Louisians equaled one NAL Pound. However, over the intervening years, poor leadership, wars and depressions, the Louisian lost value. Originally the monetary break down was:

1 Louisian = 20 petits louis = 80 piâtres (hence, 1 piâtre was equal to 1 NAL penny)

The parity of NAL£=3 Lousiannes lasted for about 30 years, more or less, and in the 1880's the Louisian took a nose-dive.

Prior to the revaluing to introduce the écu in CCXII the Louisian had dropped to 3.000 Louisian = NAL£. Because it was so devalued the lowest coin (though infrequently seen) was the 2½ Louisian coin.

Historic currency

Initially, the currency used was as follows

Coins

• ¼ piâtre
• ½ piâtre
• 1 piâtre
• 2 piâtres
• 1 petit louis
• 2½ petits louises
• 5 petits louises
• 10 petits louises

Banknotes

• 1 Louisian
• 3 Louisians (AKA livre)
• 5 Louisians
• 10 Louisians
• 30 Louisians
• 50 Louisians
• 100 Louisians

End of the Louisian

In CCXII (2004), the Écu was introduced, replacing the Louisian at a rate of 1 Écu = 1250 Louisians. The coins and banknotes in use at the time, with equivalents in Écu, are:

Coins

• 2½ Louisians (.2 centîme) - rarely seen
• 5 Louisians (.4 centîme)
• 10 Louisians (.8 centîme)
• 25 Louisians (2 centîmes)
• 50 Louisians (4 centîmes)
• 100 Louisians (8 centîmes)
• 250 Louisians (20 centîmes)
• 500 Louisians (40 centîmes) - not often seen in circulation

Banknotes

• 300 Louisians (24 centîmes) - discontinued several years before revaluation, rarely seen
• 500 Louisians (40 centîmes)
• 1,000 Louisians (80 centîmes)
• 2,500 Louisians (2 Écu)
• 5,000 Louisians (4 Écu)
• 10,000 Louisians (8 Écu)
• 50,000 Louisians (40 Écu)

The Louisianne mint halted production of the ½ Louisian (officially still "10 petits-louises") and 1 Louisian in CCV (1987). In preparation for this, the 3-Louisian was replaced by the 2½ Louisian in CCII (1984).

Post-Decimalization

With the écu, the louisian is now gradually being phazed out and replaced, and the écu is equal to 8/4 (8 shillings 4 pence = 100 pence) in NAL currency, thus NAL£1 = 2.40 Écus. The écu bills begin at two and increase on the order of 1/2/5, thus, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 écu. 100, 200, 500, écus. The breakdown of the change is simple:

1 écu = 10 décîmes = 100 centîmes

The names of the coins are as follows:

• ½c = demi-centîme (informally "perdant")
• 1c = centîme (informally "denier")
• 2c = double-centîme or doobie or doobime
• 5c = demi-decîme
• 10c = décîme
• 20c = double-décîme or cinquième
• 50c = demi-écu (informally "couronne" or "crown")
• 1E = écu

Foreign Response

Response to the new Ecu has been varied. Most foreign investors are currently concerned about the seemingly enormous outflow from Louisiannan coffers. Louisiannan response to this question is to state that there has been an increased inflow from the government owned mines in the newly acquired western territories.