Zaev & Elandi coins

Islenorian currency

Zaev, literally translated to "Royal stag", is currency minted by Empire of Islenor. Coins used by the empire from most valued to least are known as Golden Stag, Silver Doe and Copper Fawn. These coins are considered as the islenorian standard, thought is in mixed-use with Elandi- coins, which's name translates to "arrow".

Physical Description

The Zaev coinage can by the first inspection seem round but is actually shaped like a dodecagon. Coins have changed the exact shape and size several times during their long existence, making the oldest coins desirable for avid collectors.

The Copper Fawn, Silver Doe and Golden Stag display on one side a picture of a fawn, doe or stag respectively and the numeric value of the coin and the words "Ivael aul mor", meaning "Light in the darkness. Another side varies according to time it was minted from, including pictures of former rulers and other historical figures, picture of the Glass Palace or the arrow crown of the emperor.

1 Golden Stag by Tiirikka

While Zaev has stayed as a standard currency, Elandi coins function on the side. Elandi coins are shaped like triangles with curved edges, with the emblem of Emperor family of Thelirme on the side. While it is possible to have Elandis as 1 copper, 1 silver and 1 gold, most in the circulation actually printed in far more strange values. A good example would be "quarter" Elandis, like a copper quarter, worth 2.5 of the Zaevs made from the same metal. You can also find the only platinum coins in Islenor be in form of Elandi.

History

The very first batch of Zaev was minted from the order of King Keltoris Ralonsalor the 1st, in 4987 AoP (-3618 TbS). While several designs were tried, the stag from the Ralonsalor family crest ended up not only to nations emblem, that to the coins themselves. This gave the Zaev its name.

The currency didn't take quite off right away but struggled against bartering and other coins found in the area. Coins gained popularity very slowly and were mostly used by the most wealthy. This changed during the rule of Keltoris' son, King Vasandor Ralonsalor II, who during his long rule got interested in the currencies of the dwarfs of Thal Lodir. Dwarfs were highly respected traders in the area, and their currencies kept having international value. As such, Vasandor II would call upon dwarven expert into his court as an advisor on this matter. Gerdor Goldshaper from clan Grildum would work as Vasandor's advisor in the matter, and with joint efforts, Zaev didn't only become popular among the elves of Islenor but started to spread to other elven kingdoms in the area.

In the year 271 AoS, King Caelathel Thelirme 1st was crowned, continuing the conquest of the areas now belonging to the empire. He used the common currency as a bartering tactic to solidify his power among the neighbouring nations and collected them under the same banner. As he was declared as an emperor years later, he celebrated his victory by printing and putting the first Elandi in circulation. Like Emperor's crown, these coins were designed after arrowheads of the Thelirme family emblem. He did not, however, decide to replace the Zaev coins, as they seemed to help the transfer of other elven territories to the Empire, but added the variation of coins in the circulation.

Item type

Currency & Deeds

Manufacturer

Empire of Islenor

Related ethnicities

• Islenorian

Rarity

Varies

Weight

1 Copper Fawn: 5.5 g
1 Silver Doe: 8 g
1 Golden Stag: 10 g

Dimensions

1 Copper Fawn: 24 mm (diameter)
1 Silver Doe: 22 mm (diameter)
1 Golden Stag: 20 mm (diameter)

Raw materials & Components

Platinum, gold, silver, and copper

Tools

Cast with molds

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Stable currency

Thanks to the rigorous work of the Empire's mints, Zaev and Elandi are preferred in many international trades. While not quite as prestigious than the dwarven coins, Zaevs are easier to access and such have been used around the continent of Umeros.
After the War of Scale and Arrow, dragonborn of Aradace Tharur would refuse to deal with islenorian money, causing the currency temporarily drop from favor. This was because of the coins were effectively worthless in dragonborn territory, including the biggest trading hub in Umeros, the Silver Shore Island. This ban would only be temporary, and now the currency is picking up traction again.

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GM talk

For the sake of simplicity, currency only matters in Melyria when it is relevant for the plot.

Coins in circulation

Here are displayed the most likely values of Zaev and Elandi that one could find in their travels.

Zaevs

Name	Value	Notes	Rarity
1 Copper Fawn	1 cp	Copper Fawns are most used form of payment, and often in abundance. It becomes really hard to find a place to put all your pocket change.	Very common
2 Copper Fawn	2 cp	2 Copper fawn is the little less space taking yet just as useful as the 1 copper fawn, and far more prefered then the Elandi copper quarter.	Very Common
5 Copper Fawn	5 cp	It is said, that first 5 copper fawns were minted, as people kept putting their Silver Does in half in sake of conviniency. "5 coppers? That's half a silver!"	Very common
1 Silver Doe	1 sp	Silver Does are famous for often depicting queens and princesses on the other side of the coin.	Common
5 Silver Doe	5 sp	During great holidays, special coins are minted with pictures of gods and goddesses of The Seldarine. The original minting molds for the 5 Silver Does from this series have been lost, and so the coins minted with original mold have become quite valuable.	Common
1 Golden Stag	1 gp	Golden stag is a big money for a commoner, and are valued highly.	Uncommon
10 Golden Stag	10 gp	Before minting the first Platinum Elandi, 10 Golden Stags were the highest value coin minted. After introduction of Elandi, they'v been minted less and less regularly.	Rare

Elandi

Name	Value	Notes	Rarity
1 Copper Elandi	1 cp	Equvalent of 1 copper fawn.	Uncommon
Quarter Copper Elandi	2.5 cp	Considered as most annoying piece of currency by the locals. No one wants copper quarters, as no one wants to decide are they worth 2 or 3 coppers on their own. Nothing tells how much you can't stand a person than paying them with a single copper quarter.	Common
1 Silver Elandi	1 sp	Equvalent of 1 silver doe.	Uncommon
Quarter Silver Doe	2 sp 5 cp	-	Common
1 Golden Elandi	1 gp	Equvalent of 1 golden stag.	Rare
Quarter Golden Elandi	2 gp 5 sp	-	Very Rare
1 Platinum Elandi	1 pp	First platinum coin ever minted by the Islenorian Empire.	Very Rare
Quarter Platinum Elandi	2 pp 5 gp	Only few handfuls of Quarter Platinums exists, and mostly they are minted personally for Emperor to use. It's not un heard of that Platinum Quarters given out by Emperor are sometimes considered like metals of honor and kept safe instead of being used to actually buy anything.	Legendary