Fed up with its nation’s economic crisis, the small and fiscally solvent town of Filettino in central Italy declared independence of Rome, thereby seceding from the country’s jurisdiction to impose planned austerity on the town.
Like many communities in Italy, the town of over 500 faced a forced merger with other municipalities, over 30 miles away, to cut administrative costs. But Filettino Mayor Luca Sellari, determined to save his town from the atrophying Eurozone economy, decided to stave off collapse by issuing his own currency, called the Fiorito.
Fiorito banknotes are already in use in local shops and may be purchased as souvenirs.