French Basque Country has its own micro-currency – and it’s hitting the big time. Now other European communities are hoping to replicate its success.

D-mark is the abbreviation for Deutschmark, the official currency of Germany until 2002, when the country adopted the euro (EUR).

Initially, the Euro was worth about $1.18, but has declined in value to about 90 cents. This week's January 1 transition to Euro bills and coins amounts to the biggest currency transaction in history.