"The AOL COMPACT DISC was both unit of currency and status signaling apparel, as only the wealthiest could hope to accumulate and maintain a collection of these easily damaged, gaudily refractive, oversized coins. Serving neither to hold information nor any other useful purpose, AOL COMPACT DISCs are the hallmark of the AOL Culture historical period, which came to a close with the Sack of New York, circa 2001 on the ancient calendar."