He tumin was born in the municipality of Spinal in veracruzon September 21, 2010, within the framework of the bicentennial of the Mexico’s independence and the Centenary of the Mexican Revolution.
The idea was born as a project of the Veracruz Intercultural University, who undertook the task of studying the local economy in depth and found that although they were a very productive community (especially in fruit and vegetables), local producers they could not compete against the big companies and their products were standing still, without the possibility of commercializing them. It is there when the idea of direct trade and the invention of the túmin, which means money in Totonac.
Next, we present the story of an alternative currency with a presence in more than half of the Mexican territory and that proposes a new way of doing business between producers and small businesses: The túmin.
The history of this coin
When the tumin began, in Espinal, Veracruz, there were about 25,000 people living. He began to tour with 35 members of Espinal who promised to receive the 10% of the sales of your products in ethis alternative currency. When the society reached 100 merchants, they began to print the coin.
At the beginning, the associates were provided with 500 túmin when registering to be able to start making transactions with this currency, by 2016 this was no longer done. Every time the community of tumistas gains 100 new members, a printout is sent out. new circulation of 50 thousand tumin.
The coin It was thought of as a complementary currency to the peso that would promote and facilitate barter, an ancient activity that is preserved as a tradition among the Totonac communities. Originally, barter consisted of the equivalent and fair exchange of goods or products. For example: A coffee merchant who wanted to trade with a beekeeper could offer him a barter of 1 kilo of coffee for 1 liter of honey.
With the passage of time, the invention of currency and the arrival of capitalism, ancient customs such as barter disappeared or lost value for large producers. However, for small/medium companies and above all for local producers, the invention of the túmin and the values that support its use facilitate the marketing of their products; building increasingly strong and fair communities and economies where the goods that leave the community benefit it.
How does it work and support the economy of the communities?
The tumin has a value equivalent to 1 peso, however, it has never been intended to replace the official currency of Mexico in any sense.
There are currency bills with values of 1, 2, 5. 10. 20 and 50 túmin. It was created to support the peasants, the main producers of Espinal and the communities in Veracruz. The main proposal was to trade directly between producers with the help of a currency that facilitates “barter” and at the same time helps to earn money with value before the state (pesos).
The main rule is that a minimum of 10% of the price of your product must be accepted in túmin. For example, if you sell oil for 50 pesos, you must accept at least 5 pesos of the alternate currency. This means that the use of the tumin means lowering pricesHowever, there is still a benefit and more importantly, the products and services are used.
Where does it come from, who regulates it and where do you get this coin?
With the tumin you cannot speculate, it does not generate interest and it is worth more if it passes from hand to hand during the exchange of products or services than accumulated. As in any economic exchange, each deal is different and the amount of this currency accepted depends on each tourist.
In the places where this currency is handled, there must be a Casa del Túmin, where the tumistas take their product to market with other tumistas. Honey, coffee, clothing, organic fertilizer are some of the products that are sold among the businessmen who run the tumin. In places where there is no Casa del Túmin, street markets, fairs and markets are held to do business with the currency.
What do people think of this coin?
In 2016, 16 of the 32 states of the republic already had the presence of the túmin in their local economies. The communities of Xalapa, Coatepec, Papantla and the Port they already handled the currency, which had also reached the states of Jalisco, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla and Chiapas.
during the same year the tumistas of Puebla They used to have a market every Friday. Silvia Morales, a tumista from Puebla, said for the Chicago Tribune that this coin is, in addition to an agent of economic equilibrium for his community, a philosophy of life.
If someone wants to buy me a jam that costs 50 and doesn’t bring túmin, maybe I’ll accept that I give them change in túmin so they can start having it.
The túmin, more than a complementary currency, because it does not replace the peso, is like a barter. It is to return to our origins. Mar Jímenez, producer from Puebla.
This currency is a lifeline in voracious capitalism, where if you don’t have money, you don’t buy. With the tumin it is possible to acquire basic necessities.Berta García, tumista member
Also for the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Eugenio Pérez, producer of organic fertilizer and seasonal fruit from Oaxacasaid he became a partner after listening to the tumistas talk about the economy and marketing directly.
More than the monetary value, the túmin has the value of the illusion of people who fight, believe and think about helping. That is the value that I give it. A little more sentimental than economic.
By using túmin, a customer becomes a partner. Usually, competition makes one win and another lose, but the use of this currency promotes exchange, sharing and helping each other among merchants. Juan Soto, one of the creators of the túminJuan Soto, one of the creators of the túmin.
The use of this local currency has been misinterpreted when compared to the use of vouchers. Although it is true that when using túmin producers have to lower their prices, by participating in their exchange, one accepts and commits to give the highest quality in their products/services, as well as to receive them.
The tumin today
The tumin has value only among those who agree to make transactions with this currency; because although 1 túmin is equivalent to 1 Mexican peso, the former has no value before the Bank of Mexico and is not intended to supplant the country’s official currency, but rather to support the economy of producers who are looking for one more option to move their product.
In 2019, the official site www.tumin.org.mx (Not available) reported that there were around 1,200 tumistas in all of Mexico and 9 pulls of tumin. By 2022, it is estimated that there 2,500 tumists and by 2023, the tumin was already present in 24 of the 32 Mexican states with son 2,800 businesses that participate in the tumin exchange.
At present, different states of the republic such as Morelos, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz They already print their own túmin for each region and each ticket is registered with a stamp, folio and print run. Any type of product or service is welcome to use the tumin.
And Banxico?
The tumin came under the magnifying glass of the law and the Bank of Mexico, but when studying the case, the authorities realized that the currency did not present a problem since it was not legal tender in Mexico; since article 234 of the Mexican penal code prohibits the reproduction of banknotes or metallic pieces, national or foreign, that have legal tender in the issuing country. In addition, the community that created the túmin is also endorsed by the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Communities to modify their economies.
By using túmin, a customer becomes a partner. Usually, competition makes one win and another lose, but the use of this currency promotes exchange, sharing and helping each other among merchants. Discover more details about the tumin here.
By Eduardo Canche Alvarez.
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