I released Tobin Tax on January 16, 1999. The design began with the shape of the lowercase b, which I repeated as a modular element across the typeface. The result combined aspects of my techno-style construction with forms that suggested Middle Eastern decorative influences.
The name Tobin Tax did not relate to the design. It referred instead to the economic concept of taxing foreign currency transactions, which I hoped might prompt curiosity about the idea.
Tobin Tax was initially distributed with a free commercial desktop license. In August 2020, I placed it into the public domain.