Currency within The Enclave is formalized in the form of coins. The Dwarves alloy gold, copper, and silver in various proportions to yield coins for daily use. Coins in The Enclave varied in composition, shape, and size. Rounds are gold in appearance (gold-based alloy), are circular, large (1 oz), and valued at $100. Blocks are silver in color (silver-based alloy), are squares with rounded corners with a hole throught the center, of middling size(1/2 oz), and valued at $10. Trikes are copper in appearance (copper-predominant alloy), are triangles with rounded corners with a hole through the center, small (1/8 oz), and valued at $1. Motes are black and metallic in appearance (brittle dwarven alloy), are small cubes (1/8 oz), and valued at $0.10.
Enclave Currency
Official name | Common Names | Value | Ounces | #/lb |
---|
Rounds | Golds, Circs,Ones, Biguns | $100 | 1 | 16 |
Block | Silvers, Squares, Fours, Edges | $10 | 1/2 | 32 |
Trikes | Coppers, Tris, Threes, Points | $1 | 1/8 | 128 |
Motes | Blacks, Boxes, Sixes, Fillers | $0.10 | 1/8 | 128 |
Rounds are often halved or quartered in order to make change. The Blocks and Trikes are seldom split as the utility of the hole through the center is lost on splitting. These holes are often used to put coins onto a piece of cord. The shapes and sizes help differentiate the coins when stored on a cord. The practice is common enough that 25 coins on a string is referred to as a cord. A cord of Trikes would be worth $25 and a cord of Blocks would be $250. Wealthier individuals keen on displaying their status sometimes have cords with loops on the end so they can affix them to fancy metal rings. Motes just fill pockets and pouches and are used mostly for very small purchases, such as from street vendors.
The various names for the different denomiations are used differently by different classes/groups of people. Often different terms for the same denomination will be used depending upon the level of formality in a conversation. The official names are used only in the most formal of settings. Names based upon color/metal content are typical for merchant-class folks and similar who are speaking about business. Those names based upon the shapes are most common in colloquial speech. Fillers, Points, Edges, Biguns are the names used by those with a rebellious nature, low class, or those who wish to be perceived as such.
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