That’s a neat concept. I’d start by treating the currency like a smart print sheet—embedded with micro‑LEDs or a flexible display that reacts to light and motion. Each coin or note could have a small, low‑power processor that runs a tiny animation sequence, shifting the image as the user turns or shakes it. For the “story” part, you’d encode a short narrative in the visual code so that each movement reveals a new chapter. Add a companion app that lets the public scan the paper; the app could log the journey, overlay AR details, and even suggest new designs as the currency circulates. It turns circulation into a living exhibition while keeping the tech under control. Just make sure the power source is tiny and the material is durable—no one wants a wallet full of flickering bills.

That’s the kind of iterative design that keeps people engaged. If the ink itself carries the code—say, using photochromic or thermochromic pigments—you could let each handprint change a bit of the story. The chip could then just update metadata or provide a digital overlay for the AR app, so the physical paper remains robust while the narrative evolves in real time. Think of each transaction as a new brushstroke on a living canvas. It’s a low‑power way to keep the tech from dying early, while still giving users that magical, “glow‑when‑tilt” moment. Just watch the durability of the pigments and make sure the app can pull the latest version without lag.