Celegian Currency: Difference between revisions
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== Celegian Currency == | == Celegian Currency == | ||
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==The Celegian Mint== | ==The Celegian Mint== | ||
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Plats, dagits, and bits are all provincial coins, meaning they may be minted by the provinces. They are still tightly regulated in order to keep commerce orderly, and as a matter of fact the Empire has minted all new plats for over thirty thousand years. | Plats, dagits, and bits are all provincial coins, meaning they may be minted by the provinces. They are still tightly regulated in order to keep commerce orderly, and as a matter of fact the Empire has minted all new plats for over thirty thousand years. | ||
===Coin Weight=== | ===Coin Weight=== | ||
By Council Ruling, all coins in the Empire have the same approximate weight, one hundred coins to the pound. For this reason, all Celegian coinage tends to be physically small. | By Council Ruling, all coins in the Empire have the same approximate weight, one hundred coins to the pound. For this reason, all Celegian coinage tends to be physically small. | ||
===Bits=== | ===Bits=== | ||
* Bit = 1/100th gold piece | * Bit = 1/100th gold piece | ||
Bits are the least valuable coin, being worth one tenth of a dagit. They are made of nearly pure copper, with a bit of tin to harden them, and are often called copper pieces. In appearance they are round coppery coins the size of a penny. The face of the coins will typically bear the design of the province that minted the coin, which may vary from year to year. On the back is usually the Peacock Throne and other emblems of the Empire. Bits tend to be worn and old, since they are worth practically nothing. They are primarily used as change, etc. | Bits are the least valuable coin, being worth one tenth of a dagit. They are made of nearly pure copper, with a bit of tin to harden them, and are often called copper pieces. In appearance they are round coppery coins the size of a penny. The face of the coins will typically bear the design of the province that minted the coin, which may vary from year to year. On the back is usually the Peacock Throne and other emblems of the Empire. Bits tend to be worn and old, since they are worth practically nothing. They are primarily used as change, etc. | ||
===Dagits=== | ===Dagits=== | ||
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Dagits are the base coin and have been in use in the Empire in one form or another for the last fifty thousand years. Dagits are made primarily of silver, and are often called silver pieces. They are square with rounded corners and are about the size of a man's thumbnail. Like bits they have many types of designs on them, depending on where they were minted. The back usually bears the Peacock Throne and some martial inscription, while the front will have an emblem of the province that minted it and often the face of the Ordinate. | Dagits are the base coin and have been in use in the Empire in one form or another for the last fifty thousand years. Dagits are made primarily of silver, and are often called silver pieces. They are square with rounded corners and are about the size of a man's thumbnail. Like bits they have many types of designs on them, depending on where they were minted. The back usually bears the Peacock Throne and some martial inscription, while the front will have an emblem of the province that minted it and often the face of the Ordinate. | ||
===Emper=== | ===Emper=== | ||
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Empers are the smallest official Imperial coin, each being worth ten Dagits. Over the years, prices have risen to the point that this is the most common coin in the Empire. They are made of gold, copper and nickel and are about the size of a dime, being round and thin. Since they look like pure gold, they are often called gold pieces. On the face they always bear the profile of the Emperor and the date, as well as various scrollwork designs, and other decorations. The back always has the Peacock Throne and the name of the Emperor, as well as various admonitions and pledges. | Empers are the smallest official Imperial coin, each being worth ten Dagits. Over the years, prices have risen to the point that this is the most common coin in the Empire. They are made of gold, copper and nickel and are about the size of a dime, being round and thin. Since they look like pure gold, they are often called gold pieces. On the face they always bear the profile of the Emperor and the date, as well as various scrollwork designs, and other decorations. The back always has the Peacock Throne and the name of the Emperor, as well as various admonitions and pledges. | ||
===Plats=== | ===Plats=== | ||
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Plats are the most valuable provincial coin, even though they are now all made in Imperial mints. Their origin came when inflation made the Emper too bulky to be of ready use when dealing with large transactions, such as in business or between arms of the Bureaucracy. With typical Imperial inertia the government failed to introduce a new coin so the provinces came up with the plat about fifty-eight thousand years ago. Each plat is worth 1000 dagits and quite handily solved the problem. A plat is made of platinum and nickel and is even smaller than an Emper, being only as big as the iris of your eye. They are thick for their diameter, being as thick as a nickel. Plats are very durable coins, in keeping with their practical origin. The face of a plat will have the profile of the Ordinate in question, as well as the name of the Province and the date. On the back is the Peacock Throne and a pledge of the undying loyalty of the province to the greater whole. Plats have become much more common in the last few deca-millenia and are often seen in circulation. They are occasionally referred to as platinum pieces, in convention with the casual naming of the lower value coins, but this is not common. A plat represents a good sum of money, the coin is treated with some respect. | Plats are the most valuable provincial coin, even though they are now all made in Imperial mints. Their origin came when inflation made the Emper too bulky to be of ready use when dealing with large transactions, such as in business or between arms of the Bureaucracy. With typical Imperial inertia the government failed to introduce a new coin so the provinces came up with the plat about fifty-eight thousand years ago. Each plat is worth 1000 dagits and quite handily solved the problem. A plat is made of platinum and nickel and is even smaller than an Emper, being only as big as the iris of your eye. They are thick for their diameter, being as thick as a nickel. Plats are very durable coins, in keeping with their practical origin. The face of a plat will have the profile of the Ordinate in question, as well as the name of the Province and the date. On the back is the Peacock Throne and a pledge of the undying loyalty of the province to the greater whole. Plats have become much more common in the last few deca-millenia and are often seen in circulation. They are occasionally referred to as platinum pieces, in convention with the casual naming of the lower value coins, but this is not common. A plat represents a good sum of money, the coin is treated with some respect. | ||
==Newer Denominations== | ==Newer Denominations== | ||
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Orbs are beautiful coins, since they are made of an alloy of the dweomermetal Aurium. Each Orb is worth 10,000 dagits. An Orb is a brilliant red gold in hue, and is nine sided. It is the same diameter as a nickel, but is as thin as a dime. On the face is the Emperor, as well as other decorations which are changed frequently. On the back is the Peacock Throne, with the stylized circle of the Imperial Crown surmounting it, as well as other decorations. Orbs are fanciful and lovely coins, as the metal they are made of takes designs very well and the relatively large diameter allows the artisans room to work. There have been persistent complaints that they are too garish and not durable enough, so there has been some work done on changing the alloy they are made of to make it more sturdy. | Orbs are beautiful coins, since they are made of an alloy of the dweomermetal Aurium. Each Orb is worth 10,000 dagits. An Orb is a brilliant red gold in hue, and is nine sided. It is the same diameter as a nickel, but is as thin as a dime. On the face is the Emperor, as well as other decorations which are changed frequently. On the back is the Peacock Throne, with the stylized circle of the Imperial Crown surmounting it, as well as other decorations. Orbs are fanciful and lovely coins, as the metal they are made of takes designs very well and the relatively large diameter allows the artisans room to work. There have been persistent complaints that they are too garish and not durable enough, so there has been some work done on changing the alloy they are made of to make it more sturdy. | ||
===Thrones=== | ===Thrones=== | ||
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Thrones are the most valuable coin in the realm, as well as being widely admired as the most beautiful. A Throne is the same size and shape as an Orb, except that it has a ridged outer edge. Due to the similarity in size and shape, it was feared they would be mistaken for Orbs, but since it is made of an alloy of Argent, only the blind could possibly confuse them. The rich buttery golden hue of the ambergold argent alloy, combined with the rainbow iridescence of the metal and the way it seems to magnify the light falling upon it, make these coins unmistakable. Additionally, since the metal is much harder than that used in Orbs, the designs on the coins are in much lower relief and are far more subtle, so the Throne feels much smoother to the touch. A Throne is worth 1,000,000 dagits and they are hardly ever seen in casual commerce. They are common in large business dealings and in transactions between provinces, etc. The Throne bears the Emperor on the face and the Peacock Throne with Imperial Crown surmounted on the back. | Thrones are the most valuable coin in the realm, as well as being widely admired as the most beautiful. A Throne is the same size and shape as an Orb, except that it has a ridged outer edge. Due to the similarity in size and shape, it was feared they would be mistaken for Orbs, but since it is made of an alloy of Argent, only the blind could possibly confuse them. The rich buttery golden hue of the ambergold argent alloy, combined with the rainbow iridescence of the metal and the way it seems to magnify the light falling upon it, make these coins unmistakable. Additionally, since the metal is much harder than that used in Orbs, the designs on the coins are in much lower relief and are far more subtle, so the Throne feels much smoother to the touch. A Throne is worth 1,000,000 dagits and they are hardly ever seen in casual commerce. They are common in large business dealings and in transactions between provinces, etc. The Throne bears the Emperor on the face and the Peacock Throne with Imperial Crown surmounted on the back. | ||
====Magic Coins?==== | ====Magic Coins?==== | ||
It is a common urban myth in Celegia that since Orbs and Thrones are made with dweomermetal they are magic coins. This is absolutely not true, and the Emperor has made it very clear that anyone putting enchantments on Imperial coins will regret it very much. Penalties for forgery are harsh and vigorously applied, meaning that most coin shaving and other types of alteration are applied to dagits, and it is hard to turn- a profit doing that. | It is a common urban myth in Celegia that since Orbs and Thrones are made with dweomermetal they are magic coins. This is absolutely not true, and the Emperor has made it very clear that anyone putting enchantments on Imperial coins will regret it very much. Penalties for forgery are harsh and vigorously applied, meaning that most coin shaving and other types of alteration are applied to dagits, and it is hard to turn- a profit doing that. | ||
==Astral Diamonds== | ==Astral Diamonds== | ||
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Astral Diamonds are, strictly speaking, not a currency at all, but if you present Astral Diamonds as payment almost anywhere they will be accepted. Astral Diamonds are glittering clear gems, very uniform in size and weight, which can be found in various places in the Outer Planes. These Planes have become accessible since the Skybreak, and intrepid wanderers are returning with Astral Diamonds. Their method of formation is such that every Astral Diamond is remarkably similar to every other one, and the supply is small and replenishes steadily. As a result, their value is remarkably stable, making them well-suited as an ad-hoc currency. It is well accepted that an Astral Diamond is worth 100,000 Dagits, and since Astral Diamonds are so small (it takes 1000 to weigh a pound) they make for a very convenient and portable form of currency. Astral Diamonds are much loved by Thieves' Guilds, renegade Mage Circles, and anyone who wishes to buy and sell things out of the Imperial Eye. | Astral Diamonds are, strictly speaking, not a currency at all, but if you present Astral Diamonds as payment almost anywhere they will be accepted. Astral Diamonds are glittering clear gems, very uniform in size and weight, which can be found in various places in the Outer Planes. These Planes have become accessible since the Skybreak, and intrepid wanderers are returning with Astral Diamonds. Their method of formation is such that every Astral Diamond is remarkably similar to every other one, and the supply is small and replenishes steadily. As a result, their value is remarkably stable, making them well-suited as an ad-hoc currency. It is well accepted that an Astral Diamond is worth 100,000 Dagits, and since Astral Diamonds are so small (it takes 1000 to weigh a pound) they make for a very convenient and portable form of currency. Astral Diamonds are much loved by Thieves' Guilds, renegade Mage Circles, and anyone who wishes to buy and sell things out of the Imperial Eye. | ||
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Bit Copper/Tin none | Bit Copper/Tin none | ||
==== Other Forms of Exchange ==== | ==== Other Forms of Exchange ==== | ||
; Gems | ; Gems | ||
Another commonly used form of exchange is gems. These are not regulated by the Empire in any way, but have the advantage that they can be found in nearly any denomination. The biggest drawback to them is being sure that both parties agree on the actual worth of them. The use of gems has declined somewhat since the Empire began circulating Orbs and Thrones, but they are still extremely popular in transactions which are of a shady nature. Gems tend to be in high demand in Celegia, and will command high prices. The large noble and affluent class creates a high demand for gems and they are becoming rarer as time goes on. Rumors abound of abundant gems in the North, and the huge volumes of treasure retrieved from the Whispering Pass were impossible to conceal. Rumors say that the Imperial Compound is currently teetering atop a vast mound of treasure that has been stuffed into the huge Imperial Vaults. The financial state of the Empire is supposed to be better now than since the Nightmare Wars. It is true that large, heavily guarded convoys were a regular feature on the roads heading south during the entire campaign in the pass, and they continue even to this day, although less frequently. | Another commonly used form of exchange is gems. These are not regulated by the Empire in any way, but have the advantage that they can be found in nearly any denomination. The biggest drawback to them is being sure that both parties agree on the actual worth of them. The use of gems has declined somewhat since the Empire began circulating Orbs and Thrones, but they are still extremely popular in transactions which are of a shady nature. Gems tend to be in high demand in Celegia, and will command high prices. The large noble and affluent class creates a high demand for gems and they are becoming rarer as time goes on. Rumors abound of abundant gems in the North, and the huge volumes of treasure retrieved from the Whispering Pass were impossible to conceal. Rumors say that the Imperial Compound is currently teetering atop a vast mound of treasure that has been stuffed into the huge Imperial Vaults. The financial state of the Empire is supposed to be better now than since the Nightmare Wars. It is true that large, heavily guarded convoys were a regular feature on the roads heading south during the entire campaign in the pass, and they continue even to this day, although less frequently. | ||