Denomination

American Eagle

The City of Microna was conceived in 2001 by Albert C Zeller II, President of the Republic of Veshault, as a practical means of pooling resources in order to acquire land for a group of internet micronations. The intent was to establish a real self-governing town, and the site chosen was in Elko County, Nevada, on State Highway 233, 12 miles south of Montello and 4 miles north of Cobre. Survey maps identify the site as NW ¼ & SE ¼, Section 7, Township 37 N, Range 69 E. Six micronations expressed interest, but aside from Veshault only one - the Kingdom of Torhavn - proved both willing and capable of proceeding with the venture. 

The city name was incorporated on 1 January, 2002, a Zip Code was applied for, and the owner of the property approved the land purchase on 3 January. It was then announced that Ambyre Jorgensen was to take office as mayor on 21 January. During this time the city used a temporary postbox in Pahrump, North Virginia. Unfortunately Zeller's plans came to nothing and the Microna project collapsed after only a few months, when first Tor Havn withdrew citing financial difficulties, and then Veshault proved unable to meet the monthly repayments unaided.

After several years of silence Zeller suddenly re-emerged in November 2004, announcing plans to revive Microna as a solo project of the Republic of Veshault, which would now seek to subdivide and lease parts of a new 32 acre property located 7 miles north of Montello, North Virginia to other micronations.

Microna's coins were minted to help raise funds for the first incarnation of the project. They were also intended to be used as currency within the completed city's borders. It was further reported early in 2002 that 150 of the coins were distributed to homeless persons in New York City, and that they were being accepted by various street vendors for the purchase of coffee and other victuals, as a result of an arrangement negotiated with the vendors by Microna's founders. 

© 2005, USNS / G Cruickshank. Information and scans courtesy of A Zeller, E McCrea and C Shiboleth.