Coinage in the Empire has been variations on the same themes for hundreds of years. This consistency has allowed for reliable trade to exist both within the borders of the Empire and in it's dealings with foreign powers and peoples. Indeed trade is perhaps the single greatest link forging its disparate and different nationalities together into a single political entity.
Relative Values to 1 Gold, Value of 1 Coin Relative to 1 Bronze Sestertius
- 1 Gold Aureus (Aureii), 1 = $1000
- 4 Electrum Stater (Staters), 1 = $250
- 100 Silver Denarius (Denarii), 1 = $10
- 1000 Bronze Sestertius (Sestertii), 1 = $1
- 10,000 Copper Nummus (Nummii), 1 = $0.10
The rare gold coin is called the Aureus. Each individual coin is an impressive amount of wealth. They trade at a base rate of 100 silver to 1 gold. Despite their value, less effort is made to decorate these coins in a propagandized manner as their users are limited to the very powerful and the very wealthy. A single gold coin is hard to use for your average labourer as most taverns, shops, and stores do not accept it for regular exchanges.
The large electrum coin, an alloy made up of gold and silver, is known as the Stater. These early coins were adopted from the Epirans upon their integration, filling an effective role in trade that Amura could not previously afford to mint. As the Empire grew it gained access to numerous new deposits of silver and gold, allowing it to significantly increase production of its silver and gold denominations and eliminating the trade niche of the electrum coins.
Silver coins, Denarii, form the lifeblood of the Empire. The familiar clinking of these coins changing hands can be heard on every street. As a valuable yet somewhat common metal, lustrous silver fills the coffers of businesses and families alike across every land. The average craftsperson earns the equivalent of a single Denarius for a day's work and this can buy them a reasonable quality of life.
Large bronze coins called Sestertii and small copper coins called Nummii are the most commonly used and minted. Allowing people to purchase their daily goods, they quickly get worn down and are thus crafted in massive numbers at official workshops in every Province. Along with the Denarius, these coins form the basis of the economy of the Empire. The average labourer earns 1 Sestertius for a day's work, and this can buy them a basic lifestyle.
Metals used in these coins come from numerous sources, mines both state-owned and private. Unsurprisingly the prolific dwarves of the Empire have increasingly taken over the supply of these metals as the surface-based mines are exhausted. The deep shaft excavations of the dwarves continue to plumb the richest veins of ore and their tireless work ethic ensures more are tapped into regularly.
Mints are strictly controlled. Production of coins is handled by government officials and workers, and mints are considered vital state infrastructure and protected by the professional soldiers of the Legions. Provincial mints produce local bronze and copper coins to ensure enough supply, whereas large regional mints produce the silver Denarii. The gold coins are minted solely in Amura itself, ensuring that all gold must flow to and from the capital city of the Empire. Though forgeries and fakes of the basic coins are common, most are good enough to pass muster.
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