Seen at the October 2014 Nummis Nova dinner was a short set of three gold Celestons, currency ofthe Nation of Celestial Space. Be it known, Celestia encompasses all hitherto unclaimed territory(by humanity) including the known universe, less the Earth itself.

Declared on January 1, 1949 (Earth Calendar) by the far seeing "First Representative"James T. Mangan, formerly of Evergreen Park, Illinois, United States, Earth; at its inception,nineteen humans claimed to belong to the new nation through primogeniture, including Mangan'sdaughter Ruth (Stump), Princess of the Nation of Celestial Space, who later bore three sons, allDukes as it turned out, including Todd Stump, Duke of the Milky Way.

The Nation of Celestia is still remembered through stamps, coins, videos, and its flag, a white"hashtag" on blue disk in a field of white that frankly reminds me of South AmericanSpanish colonial coins that read "Plus Vltra" along the center tic-tac-toe line, meaning"more beyond".

James T. Mangan claimed something for which "Ne Plus Vltra" really does apply, and hedid so at an auspicious time when the United Nations was new. Showing up in New York with a snazzyflag and asking for diplomatic credentials, he got them, along with a solemn (and televised) flagraising ceremony at the U.N. in 1958 at the dawn of the "Space Age."

Now when it came time to collect tariffs from, and issue passports to the first RussianCosmonauts who ignored his demands, and the first American Astronauts in 1961, diplomatic relationswith Celestia hit a rocky patch among the increasingly surly Earth-bound (I should say "spacebound") nations.

It would have been a good move to provide the cosmonauts and astronauts with Celestia passportsfree of charge, with the traveler's picture and requiring their signatures, under the stipulationthat passports be carried at all times when in Celestia, and that they would be subject tosurrender to the First Representative upon expiration for reissue.

Imagine if the Mercury Seven Astronauts had autographed and carried Celestia Passports intospace and back. "Godspeed John Glenn, and please remit $10 for a Celestia visa stamp for eachorbit." Just an idea if this ever crops up again. In fact common mistakes in micronationstatecraft like this, really need a "How-to" manual or "Micronation Statecraft forDummies?" to be written.

You may be surprised to learn there is such atome, entitled "How to Start Your Own Country - How You Can Profit from the Coming Decline ofthe Nation State" written by Erwin S. Strauss a resident of Fairfax County, Virginia in 1983.From the flyleaf: Mr. Strauss

We learn that there are at least five basic approaches to nation building including

1) traditional sovereignty with its requirements for a population, defined location, sharedvision, membership in the U.N., ambassadors and passports and all. You can probably name a fewcountries like that.

2) Most profitable are "ships under flag of convenience" which are basically allowedto fly their own flag, in international waters, but often only after tribute is paid to the nearestfriendly, safe harbor nation that sanctions pirate-like operations, which in modern times we thinkof pirate radio stations and duty free shopping.

3) By means of litigation, one may simply declare independence, but it takes ages and muchunderstanding (and legal fees) within the emancipator nation, and is not recommended forrun-of-the-mill founding fathers.

4) "Vonu" (pardon my Esperanto) means "out of sight - out of mind," andrefers to groups of likeminded citizens who drop from sight to found their own Utopias inuncongested parts of the world. Homesteaders in Antarctica, Pitcairn Islanders (after the Mutiny onthe Bounty), and Mormons of Salt Lake City who issued gold coins thru 1860, and other groups ofwhom you are not aware, are good examples.

Lastly, 5) Model Countries which Mr. Strauss likens to running model railroads, but instead oftrack and rolling stock, the nation-building hobbyist designs their own stamps, coins, issues theirown currency, prints their own money.

Now I've got your attention. The trick is to get other nations to accept your new stamps andcoins, and especially for tourists to buy them for more than face value. Making them from one troyounce of silver, for instance, as did H.R.H. Prince Leonard of the Principality of the Hutt RiverProvince, in the vicinity of Australia, who discovered his coins circulating in Hong Kong, may becounted a success for the Model Nation Builder. Theoretically, the first issue of coins from everycountry started from such humble beginnings.

The International Micropatrological Society tracks the status of various nation buildingprojects and may act as a clearinghouse for those who collect "One From Each Country"(OFEC), when they are ready to go for the gusto of typically rare, micronation issues.

Celestia for example, issued gold "Celestons" of Princess Ruth in 1959, 1960 and 1961in uncirculated and proof, (one variety with a small "R"), in 0.900 fineness, at 2.2grams, and with an emission of about 450 pieces.

Each Celeston equals ten silver "Joules" of 4.15 grams Sterling. A Joule equals ten"ergs." Some influential micronation coin issuers whom we applaud, include one of themany Atlantis attempts termed "Operation Atlantis" which issued the "Deca," theIsland of Lundy which issued "Puffins," the Conch Republic (Key West), the Cocos Islands,the Republic of Minerva, Sealand, being a WWII era anti-aircraft platform seven miles from themouth of the River Orwell, off the Essex Coast of England, the Sultanate of Occussi-Ambeno, underSultan Sir Wallis Abdullah I, in the vicinity of Timor, Indonesia, but with a post office box inNew Zealand, and the Independent Republic of Granbia, located in a semi-detached house inLiverpool, England under King Andrew I (formerly known as Andrew Richardson, a postman). Bravo!

Besides minting coins, micro nations may do well in bestowing noble titles, such as those sold(I mean bestowed for an honorarium) by King Richard, of the Kingdom of Hay, whose royal treasurehouse consists of a used book emporium in a small village in Wales. Knighthoods, Earldoms,Dukedoms, Baronetcies, and regal posts including Herald Extraordinary, Poet Laureate, RoyalForrester, and Admiral of the Fleet await, perhaps as a surprise for your hard-to-buy-for friendswho have everything already.

Where is all this micronation statecraft advice leading? Micronations traditionally require adefined territory to qualify, yet after the dawn of the Space Age came the dawn of the Age ofVirtual Reality. A few examples of emerging virtual micronations such as the Society for CreativeAnachronism were mentioned in Mr. Strauss' book, but today entire virtual communities, cloudcomputing consortiums, and virtual worlds (think Minecraft), come with virtual coins (some offeredin exchange for Bitcoins, PayPal credits, or iTunes Gift Cards, worth real money). They do exist incyberspace, no longer needing a physical place to plant their flag.

Virtual Micronation Statecraft for Dummies, anyone?

To read the complete article, see:
How to Start Your Own Country(archive.org/details/HowToStartYourOwnCountry)