Space Money Invented For Space Tourists

An anonymous reader writes "The foreign exchange company Travelex has invented a unit of currency designed to be used in space commerce, the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination (QUID). The QUID is made of a space-qualified plastic, with round edges to prevent injuries in zero gravity. One QUID is equivalent to about 6.25 pounds, 12.50 dollars or 8.68 Euros. Of course, space currencies are already a staple of science fiction, with 'credits' being the most popular."

Comments

Problem?

[le0p]

Solution: Problem, where are you?

Re:Problem?

[Chris Burke]

Yeah, no kidding. And besides, I had to read the title like 5 times before I stopped parsing it as "Space MONKEY invented for Space Tourists", and while I didn't know how one "invents" a monkey, I did think this would be a great thing that space tourists would greatly appreciate.

But just some money? Sounds more like gift shop tokens. If you can't use QUIDs to buy a Space Monkey, then I predict they will fail.

local slang

[User 956]

One QUID is equivalent to about 6.25 pounds

So it's 6 quid per QUID? That sounds confusing.

Bah.

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone knows the only true space money is the Interstellar Kredit. Go go ISK!

Re:Money is a sign of poverty.

[User 956]

The presence of currency means the scarcity problem hasn't been solved by the civilisation, which means they are poor primitives not worth the bother of Contacting.

And they probably don't have cool matching jumpsuits, either.

Re:Round edges....

[Anonymous Crowhead]

My question is: how do you fight counterfeiters with plastic money? Seems like it would be relatively easy to fake, compared to metal or newer paper currencies?

Just wait. In a few months, there will be an article about how there are RFIDs in each QUID and the Slashbots will go apeshit.

Re:Money is a sign of poverty.

[Applekid]

So, in other words...

1) Solve scarcity
2) ???
3) Not profit?

I'm unsettled by this. Excuse me while go have my lobes stroked.

Monetary Units: None

[hitchhacker]

In fact there are three freely convertible currencies in the Galaxy, but none of them count. The Altarian Dollar has recently collapsed, the Flainian Pobble Bead is only exchangeable for other Flainian Pobble Beads, and the Triganic Pu has its own very special problems. It exchange rate of eight Ningis to one Pu is simple enough, but since Ningi is a triangular rubber coin six thousand eight hundred miles along each side, no one has ever collected enough to own one Pu. Nigis are not negotiable currency, because Galactibanks refuse to deal in fiddling small change. From this basic premise it is very simple to prove that the Galactibanks are also the product of a deranged imagination.

-metric

Re:Goddamnit

[BobGregg]

>>Why not "credit"?!?

Because it isn't a cool acronym. Cool acronyms always make things cooler. Just look at what "AJAX" did for - uh, AJAX.

Easily remedied though:

CALCULATED
RATE of
EXCHANGE
DENOMINATION for
INTERPLANETARY
TRAVELERS

There - CREDIT. That oughtta just about do it. Lot better than QUID, to be sure...

The Future Is Still Money?!

[kitsunewarlock]

Psh. I was hoping we could exchange goods and services with things like youtube external links, myspace mass friend invites and wikipedia article additions...

While I'm at it:

Spacesuits: $1,200 each.
Oxygen recharge: $3.22 per gallon.
Farting in your space suit while you and your cheap-ass buddy share an airtank; priceless.

There's somethings your national currency can't buy. For everything else, there's QUIDS.

Re:Goddamnit

[Krupuk]

A science fiction term needs the word "space" somewhere in there.

What about "Space Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination"?

Urgent Space Request

[neapolitan]

Dear Sir:

Greetings from the Highest General of the Counsel of Intergalactic Planetary Commerce Exchange. I am Sir Zaphod Centauri, esteemed chairman of the Counsel of Planets. I have a business proposal for you that may be of most benefit to both of us. Forgive me for contacting you over subspace, but Colonel Zimrohn expressed you will be reliable, and I ask you to hold this in utmost confidence.

On Stardate 92714.3, the King of the United Saturnalia perished unexpectedly in a teleportation tragedy. He left in our accounts sum of NINETY-TWO TRILLION SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHT BILLION Quasi Universal Intergalactic Demoniations (QUID) which can not be accessed except by a native of the Milky Way. As of now this money sits unclaimed in our starbank.

I would like you to act as Earth fiduciary for this money. Please send your STARBANK number via encrypted link to me so that I may transfer this QUID to you. As agent for this transaction you will receive 10% of QUID in your account.

Please contact me at your most urgent communication, only over encrypted subspace link.

Yours sincerely,

Zaphod Centauri