Coinage in the Forbidden Zone
Regarding the currencies exchanged in the Realms of Eldenterra
Summary
The Eldenterra cultures of the Forbidden Zone nearly all use coinage minted and endorsed as legal tender by their chief local sovereigns. The two most significant currencies are based on the Pachucese Common Talon and the Arenkan Silver Dollar.
The Talon is the most common legal tender in the Zone. It is used locally throughout the Pachuco Jungle and on the Island of Lowdown. Silver dollars minted in Enderwild are used as the daily currency by the Silver Clans of Arenko.
Both of these currencies are commonly accepted as legal tender at standard exchange rates throughout the Zone. For this reason they are used by traders and explorers who ply the rivers and coasts of the Zone wilderness.
The other Zoner states conduct trade commerce in these currencies but they also maintain their own local legal tender. For example, the city-states of Pimaca and Azoturia share a common currency based upon the exchange of lacquered wooden rods, sanctified by the Pimacan High Hierophant. The priest-king and his attendants imbue the rods with value by virtue of the divine mandate.
The southern trade clans and plantation lords of Tabazan employ a local coinage resembling that used by the Southern Kingdoms. In fact, the Tabazani literally re-stamp these foreign coins with their own sovereign seals.
The mountain thanes of Terragar have their own currency as well, a system of bank-issued promissory notes. Terragar paper bills are essential for commerce within the mountain kingdom but useless outside of Terragar.
Zoners also trade in ancient baubles recovered from Precursor vaults, especially data and power cartridges, which often resemble coin-like discs. Most merchants accept silvered battery discs (called "chips") at a value of 15 silver talons.
Pachuco Common Talon
The currency of Pachuco is decimilized and uses a stamped coinage issued by the treasuries of the Solar Presidium. The standard coin of common commerce is the 2 oz. silver talon. Ten bronze kestrels make a talon and ten copper quills make a kestrel. There are also limited amounts of more precious coins such as the golden eagle, worth five silver talons, and the protanium spear, worth ten talons. The spear coin is so-named because its value matches the full cost to maintain a foot soldier in armed service for a full month.
Pachuco Currency Exchange
| Coin | CP | BP | SP | GP | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quill, Copper Piece (CP) = | 1 | 1/10 | 1/100 | 1/500 | 1/1000 |
| Kestrel, Bronze Piece (BP) = | 10 | 1 | 1/10 | 1/50 | 1/100 |
| Talon, Silver Piece (SP) = | 100 | 10 | 1 | 1/5 | 1/10 |
| Eagle, Gold Piece (GP) = | 500 | 50 | 5 | 1 | 1/2 |
| Spear, Protanium Piece (PP) = | 1000 | 100 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
Arenko Silver Dollar
The Arenkans use a silver-standard currency just as the Pachucese do. Unlike the Pachucese, however, the Arenkans use only silver to mint their standard coinage. They mint these coins in different sizes and clip the centers with designs of various shapes so that they may be distinguished for use. The 2-ounce dollar coin (equivalent to the Pachucese Talon) is clipped in the center with a pentagonal hole and serves as the base denomination. An Arenko dollar is worth one hundred silver pennies or five silver twinces. Pennies are 1/4 ounce, noticeably smaller than dollars, and clipped in the center with a triangular hole, whereas twinces are 1-ounce, alloyed silver, and clipped with a square hole.
Arenkan Currency Exchange
| Coin | P | T | D | B | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny, Silver - Triangular (P) = | 1 | 1/10 | 1/100 | 1/1000 | 1/2500 |
| Twince, Silver - Square (T) = | 10 | 1 | 1/10 | 1/100 | 1/250 |
| Dollar, Silver - Pentagonal (D) = | 100 | 10 | 1 | 1/10 | 1/25 |
| Bolt, Platinum (B) = | 1000 | 100 | 10 | 1 | 10/25 |
| Moon, Silver - Large (M) = | 2500 | 250 | 25 | 2½ | 1 |
In addition to the standard denominations, the ruling Court of the Raven also issues a limited amount of prestige coins. These coins are minted in limited quantities and typically circulate only among high volume traders or other such wealthy luminaries. One of these is called the bolt piece, a special coin minted with protanium, which the Arenkans call "true silver." The bolt piece is 2 ounces, clipped with a square hole, and worth 10 silver dollars. The Arenkans also circulate a large, palm-sized, 5-ounce silver coin called a "moon coin." These moon coins are stamped with the seal of the moon goddess and are worth 25 silver dollars. Moon coins are no longer minted (not since the supremacy of the Zone's solar cults) and some consider them to be potentially valuable antiques of the bygone age.
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