Ora (currency) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ora (currency)
[[Image:|252px|Ten Ora note featuring Racheltjie de Beer]] Ten Ora note featuring Racheltjie de Beer
ISO 4217 Code	None
User(s)	Orania, Northern Cape
Symbol	Φ

The Ora (symbol: Φ) is a special kind of money used only in Orania. Orania is a town in South Africa where many Afrikaners live. The Ora was first used in April 2004.

The Ora is linked to the South African rand, which means one Ora is always worth the same as one Rand. The name "Ora" comes from the Latin word aurum, which means "gold". The national bank of South Africa, called the South African Reserve Bank, does not officially recognize the Ora.

History of the Ora

The idea for the Ora started in 2002. A professor named Johan van Zyl thought that a community should have its own tools to help itself grow. Having its own money was one of these ideas.

Why the Ora Was Created

The first Ora notes were printed in April 2004. The main goal was to create a local currency for Orania. This was part of a bigger plan for Orania to become a more independent community for Afrikaners. Before the Ora was launched, the South African Reserve Bank warned that the new notes could not look like the national Rand notes. This is a rule under South African law.

Ora Notes and Their Designs

The Ora comes in different values, called denominations. You can find notes for 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Ora. Each note has a special design:

• The 10 Ora note shows parts of Afrikaner history.
• The 20 Ora notes display Afrikaner art.
• The 50 Ora notes feature Afrikaner culture.
• The 100 Ora note highlights Orania itself.

Each note also helps local businesses by advertising them.

How the Ora Is Used Today

To encourage people to use the Ora, some shops in Orania offer a 5% discount if you pay with Ora. A local bank, called the Orania Spaar- en Kredietkoöperatief, manages the Ora system. You can exchange South African Rands for Ora at this bank. One Rand equals one Ora.

Using the Ora also helps prevent theft. This is because the Ora can only be used within Orania. By 2011, about 400,000 to 580,000 Ora were being used. New notes are printed every three years. This replaces old notes that have become worn out from use.

dOra: The Digital Ora

A dOra user is scanning the QR of the recipient for payment

In May 2021, Orania launched a new version of the Ora called the dOra. The dOra is a digital form of the Ora. It offers extra benefits, like making payments using electronic devices.

The dOra will not replace the paper Ora notes. Instead, it will work alongside them. Also, unlike the physical Ora, the dOra does not have an expiry date. A local technology group, the Orania Technology Group, led the work to create this digital money.

See also

• Volkstaat
• Afrikaner nationalism