99% Invisible Real Fake Bridges
Sep 14, 2021
Join Jacob Goldstein, author of "Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing," as he delves into the fascinating world of paper currency. He shares the intriguing story of the Euro's design, aimed at fostering unity without national bias. Discover how bridges and gateways symbolically shape the Euro banknotes, reflecting European identity. Goldstein also explores China's early paper currency innovations and their lasting impact on global trade. Spoiler: it's a tale of creativity, identity, and economic transformation!
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Euro Origins
- European countries adopted the euro to unify Europe and transcend nationalism.
- This created a design challenge for banknotes, avoiding national symbols.
Initial Design
- The initial euro banknotes featured generic architectural elements like windows, gateways, and bridges.
- Austrian designer Robert Kalina won the design contest with this concept.
Fake Bridges Exposed
- Bridge enthusiast Russ Swan discovered the "fake" bridges were based on real ones, including the Pont de Normandie and Rialto.
- His discovery, publicized by the BBC, forced a redesign of the banknotes.
