Currency
Valor's currency is also frequently (though not always) accepted in the surrounding nations. There are three basic forms in circulation, though cuts are also accepted so long as they are still identifiable.
Creation
All forms have markings unique to the smith that was approved to create them, and the material is the Crafters Forge's most well-kept secret. They have a speckled blue-gray appearance, rough but with shining pieces, that is extremely difficult to replicate without the exact recipe and process notes.
If a would-be forger tries to melt down flats to form his own bolts, the speckles become notably murky, and there will be no shine left in it. However, reputable smiths will exchange whole flats for splits, and whole bars for bolts. The pieces are passed through the guild to one of the approved smiths to be reforged or replaced according to their own guidelines.
Denominations
There are 10 flats in a bolt and 5 bolts in a bar. A solid bundle may be formed of 25 flats or 20 bolts.
Flat
The cheapest denomination, flats are about as long and wide as a finger, and relatively flat (hence the name). They are stamped on one side; the pattern covers the entire width, and may include third markings for even division. Though strong enough not to break accidentally, they can be split as needed with a hammer and a block or chisel.
A third-flat will get you a cup of tea and a light snack at most tea houses. In the countryside, it'll go a little further. Thirds are the most common split, but flats can also be split to halves or sixths (called sixers). Anyone trying to pay with a different split (quarter, for example) is unlikely to succeed.
A payment of two and one-third flat can be written as: 2ƒ 3
A payment of one-half flat can be written as: ƒ 2
Bolt
The standard denomination, currently worth ten flats. Bolts are the same length and width as a flat, but thicker. The ends are mostly square, though with rounded edges (that can become more rounded over time as they are circulated). A gold rod is at the center of each bolt, and can be seen at each end. Created by splitting bars; bolts are not generally divided further, with flats given in change instead. However, if one has the tools to split a bolt, a half will be acceptable currency.
A payment of three bolts can be written as: 3þ
Bar
The largest denomination, a bar is five bolts still connected. They are made in molds, so the smith's markings can be both embossed and engraved. This denomination is preferred for official business, both because they are easier to store than loose bolts and because the markings are easier to verify, as the entire pattern is present. Can be easily split into bolts with a hammer and chisel.
A payment of one bar can be written as: 1β
Bundle
Not a set denomination, but this is a common way to refer to a large (but not astronomical) amount of money. Depending on class, a person might mean a handful of flats or of bolts, but either way, it would be an amount that could be held together and then tied in a tight bundle for easy transport or safekeeping. Though tying a bundle is common, the term may also be used to refer to a similar-sized stash of money kept in any other way--in a jar, scattered under a mattress, in a bag, anything.
For ease of counting larger payments, flats or bolts might by tied in an "solid bundle" of 25 or 10 respectively, and tied with red cord to signal that they are pre-counted. Someone caught shorting such a bundle is called a "cord-thrift," and considered to be just short of a thief.
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