diff --git a/src/cosmoscodec.ts b/src/cosmoscodec.ts
index 31d6e3cf..88a74ea8 100644
--- a/src/cosmoscodec.ts
+++ b/src/cosmoscodec.ts
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ export class CosmosCodec implements TxCodec {
   }
 
   public bytesToSign(unsigned: UnsignedTransaction, nonce: Nonce): SigningJob {
-    console.log("nonce:", nonce);
-    // ohhh... this is a bug!!!
     const accountNumber = 0;
     const memo = (unsigned as any).memo;
     const built = buildUnsignedTx(unsigned, this.tokens);
diff --git a/src/types.spec.ts b/src/types.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87f07fe7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/camelcase */
+import { accountToNonce, nonceToAccountNumber, nonceToSequence } from "./types";
+
+describe("nonceEncoding", () => {
+  it("works for input in range", () => {
+    const nonce = accountToNonce("1234", "7890");
+    expect(nonceToAccountNumber(nonce)).toEqual("1234");
+    expect(nonceToSequence(nonce)).toEqual("7890");
+  });
+
+  it("errors on input too large", () => {
+    expect(() => accountToNonce("1234567890", "7890")).toThrow();
+    expect(() => accountToNonce("178", "97320247923")).toThrow();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index 5e44a030..2ebcec1c 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Amount, Token } from "@iov/bcp";
+import { Amount, Nonce, Token } from "@iov/bcp";
 import amino from "@tendermint/amino-js";
 
 export type AminoTx = amino.Tx & { readonly value: amino.StdTx };
@@ -40,3 +40,42 @@ export function coinToAmount(tokens: TokenInfos, coin: amino.Coin): Amount {
     quantity: coin.amount,
   };
 }
+
+// tslint:disable-next-line:no-bitwise
+const maxAcct = 1 << 23;
+// tslint:disable-next-line:no-bitwise
+const maxSeq = 1 << 20;
+
+// this (lossily) encodes the two pieces of info (uint64) needed to sign into
+// one (53-bit) number. Cross your fingers.
+export function accountToNonce(accountNumber: string, sequence: string): Nonce {
+  const acct = parseInt(accountNumber, 10);
+  const seq = parseInt(sequence, 10);
+
+  // we allow 23 bits (8 million) for accounts, and 20 bits (1 million) for tx/account
+  // let's fix this soon
+  if (acct > maxAcct) {
+    throw new Error("Account number is greater than 2^23, must update Nonce handler");
+  }
+  if (seq > maxSeq) {
+    throw new Error("Sequence is greater than 2^20, must update Nonce handler");
+  }
+
+  const val = acct * maxSeq + seq;
+  return val as Nonce;
+}
+
+// this extracts info from nonce for signing
+export function nonceToAccountNumber(nonce: Nonce): string {
+  const acct = nonce / maxSeq;
+  if (acct > maxAcct) {
+    throw new Error("Invalid Nonce, account number is higher than can safely be encoded in Nonce");
+  }
+  return Math.round(acct).toString();
+}
+
+// this extracts info from nonce for signing
+export function nonceToSequence(nonce: Nonce): string {
+  const seq = nonce % maxSeq;
+  return Math.round(seq).toString();
+}
diff --git a/types/types.d.ts b/types/types.d.ts
index 62d5ab9b..eda75b7b 100644
--- a/types/types.d.ts
+++ b/types/types.d.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Amount, Token } from "@iov/bcp";
+import { Amount, Token, Nonce } from "@iov/bcp";
 import amino from "@tendermint/amino-js";
 export declare type AminoTx = amino.Tx & {
   readonly value: amino.StdTx;
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ export interface TokenInfo extends Token {
 export declare type TokenInfos = ReadonlyArray<TokenInfo>;
 export declare function amountToCoin(lookup: ReadonlyArray<TokenInfo>, amount: Amount): amino.Coin;
 export declare function coinToAmount(tokens: TokenInfos, coin: amino.Coin): Amount;
+export declare function accountToNonce(accountNumber: string, sequence: string): Nonce;
+export declare function nonceToAccountNumber(nonce: Nonce): string;
+export declare function nonceToSequence(nonce: Nonce): string;