I made a chess set using only money. Notes for the board, coins for the pieces. Total cost: £2,402.68.

Step 1: About...

I can't remember when or from where this idea originates. All I do know is that it was finally realized on Saturday 23rd August, after saving up a lot of money. The principle is simple, collect all your loose change to use for the pieces, and visit the bank to withdraw notes, and fold up them to build the individual squares. This alone, is a cool idea, but I wanted it to be more special, so I designed each piece using coins that I considered would specifically, and artistically, represent the piece and its historical and gameplay purpose. And instead of white and black, the opposing sides would be called 'heads' and 'tails'.

Step 2: Getting the Money

Go to and/or rob a bank and withdraw £2,402.68

Step 3: Prepare the Notes

Fold each note into a rough square so that a suitable colour contrast can be achieved. I used the '50' and '20' flashes to be prominant. Even notes of different sizes will, because of the chequerboard pattern, ultimate match on all four sides. Make sure every note is folder in exactly the same way.

Step 4: Lay Them Out

Carefully arrange the notes on the board, and add a surround. Do this so that the uniformity can be seen visually.

Step 5: Perspex Cover

Lower a sheet perspex onto the notes. This keeps the board flat, and together. Because the notes all stand up in the same orientation you should be able to lower from the 'hinged' side of all the notes, and they will collapse naturally into shape.

Step 6: Place Coins on Top

I designed each piece using coins that I considered would specifically, and artistically, represent the piece and its historical and gameplay purpose.

Pawn - The foot soldiers. Naturally, these had to utilise the lowest denomination, currently the penny. Since soldiers are individuals I decide on a single coin, but because as they are proud to be representing and defending their country, I picked only the shiniest coins I had. Total cost per side: 8p.

Rook - Sometimes called .castles., these are the solid bastions placed at the edge of the board, so they had to look strong and purposeful, so I stacked 9 in a tower. But which coin? The two fattest coins are the 2p and Â£2, so I choice the 2p. This means the total cost of the piece is 18p, thereby gaining value by brute force, in much the same way the rook controls the board. It.s war connotations are amplified by using dull coins, and is the only major piece to use copper. Total cost per side: 36p.

Knight - A complex piece, with deadly beauty . especially in the hands of a chess master. I therefore choice the most complex coins, the 7-sided 20p, and 50p, and stacked them for height and value, intentionally making it the most expensive piece of non-royalty on the board. It consists of 8x20p and 1x50p. Total cost per side: Â£4.20.

Bishop - This has a broad base of 3x10p to represent the congregation, and a tall stack of 11x5p in an attempt to reach heaven (why else are church spires so high?) The (physically) smallest UK coin, the 5p, represents the bishops narrow purpose in battle. Total cost per side: Â£1.70.

Step 7: King and Queen

Queen - Tall and stately. The 6x£1 stack is simple and direct. The pound symbolizes unity and home, with so much in our culture based around it, such as the .everything for £1. shops, the cost of a lottery ticket, and so on. Total cost per side: £6.00.

King - The focus of the game is to capture of the king, so this must include the largest value coin (£2), and be worth the most. (There is a £5 coin, but that.s rare.) There is also a stack of pound coins to mirror that of the Queen, and their marriage. However, the king is more important (sorry, girls!) so his stack is 7x£1, and 1x£2. Total cost per side: £9.00.