The CopperDonut — or CuDo 🍩 as it is commonly called — is Bricklyn’s official currency, adopted in 1971 to replace the Danish krone.
The CuDo both honors Vermont (which welcomed in LEGO immigrants from the Danish Realm) and recognizes the key role that donuts play in Bricklyn, which bills itself as The Donut Capital of America.
It was in appreciation of Vermont’s assistance in the founding of the Tri-Partite Realm of Bricklyn that Bricklyn’s founders decided to name and model their new currency after the Copper — the late 18th century Republic of Vermont’s currency — using a slightly modified version of the Copper’s “Eye of Providence” design.
At the same time, the newly formed Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce felt that the importance of donuts to Bricklyn should also be recognized in the Realm’s new coins.
Thus the similarity in look of the coin to a donut (though the coin is actually about 15 percent thinner than a typical donut).
As a practical matter, paper CuDo notes are more widely used, but the historic coin CuDo remains popular among Bricklynites!
➤ For a more detailed look at the fascinating history and use of the CopperDonut see “Kudos to the CuDo: A Look at Bricklyn’s Unique Currency“
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