Vasargas

"Why would the Munasimuna squander warriors made of flesh when we could employ warriors made of gold instead?"
"I've never heard of the man to resort to payments. He prefers blood to gold."
-A conversation between merchants

Physical Description

A round gold coin, the Vasargas depicts the Munasimuna during whose reign the coin was minted on the observe holding a spear and bow. His name was inscribed in Satri cuneiform beneath. The reverse features a crude approximation of a Satri-style palace, to remind the Vasaragas’ owner to whom they owe the coin’s existence. 

Economic Influence

For the lives of the majority of the Satri Empire’s millions of subjects, the Vasargas’ introduction changed little. The coin was most often used by the nobility or merchants when valuable transactions took place or in payments of tribute. Most people used silver coins or continued to barter. Regardless, a single currency system encouraged trade between the empire’s Marusi and the economy undoubtedly grew. The Varsargas’ standard weight eases the challenges of tax collecting - it is easier to weigh and count one type of currency than several to dozens. 
Another purpose of the Vasargas is to pay bribes to Satra’s enemies and rewards to her friends.

Cultural Influence

For the less fortunate subjects of the Satri Empire, owning one of the gold coins is an admirable goal for which to aspire Many people never handle gold in their entire lives and all their assets fail to add up to the value of a single Varsagas. 
Among merchants, the coin commonly goes one of several names: kings, crowns, and warriors. Non-Satri tend to refer it by these names and others, such as golds, yellows, and madders - the last of these because of gold’s temptation on the more corrupt members of society.

Item type

Currency & Deeds

Manufacturer

Satri Empire

Owning Organization

Satri Empire

Raw materials & Components

Gold

Tools

A blank gold coin, two die - one upper die with the observe design and one lower die with the reverse design stamped onto it - and a hammer are required to make each Varsargas.

History

The idea of the Vasargas was conceived during the reign of Vasadurna - the second Munasimuna of the Satri Empire. He was inspired by the coinage of the Duvatasa, whom his father, Narsadas, had conquered a generation prior. Before then, Vasadurna’s subjects relied on local currency or barter. The Munasimuna desired to unite the people of his burgeoning empire politically and economically. To do the latter, he needed to create a common currency. Thus, the Vasargas was introduced, along with two types of differently-sized silver coins. As the empire aged, the coin grew smaller in size, so a more substantial number could be minted, which decreased its value because there was less gold per coin.
The Satri briefly considered debasing the currency by mixing less costly metals with the gold but decided against it.