Monetary system

There is no unified international monetary system on Elizium, each state has it’s own. Detailed here are the coins and values of some of the major powers on the continent of Eroon.

We are often asked how much money a player should start with, this depends on the GM and what he or she feels will best suit the style of play they are aiming for. We suggest having characters start with about 10 coins of each of the common denominations of their home state,* poor characters have about half or less of this, rich ones have two or three times more. If the GM wants a game where the party start with more or less in their savings, then by all means, the GM has final say.

* so for example an imperial character may begin with 10 crowns, 10 shillings and 10 Imperial pennies. Half that if they are poor, twice that if they are wealthy.

Pennies;- Struck from either copper or bronze these coins can legally be minted by anyone, so long as they weigh between 22 and 24 troy grains and are composed of “A metal of purity not less than would be expected by the king”. A vague sounding statement that has lead to the customs office repeatedly asking that a more detailed explanation of required purity be given. A request that has so far not been fulfilled. Consequently, Twin Kingdom pennies are considered worthless in the Empire, where most people will refuse to accept them outside of the province of Thule. In Thule the value of a twin Kingdom Penny varies from merchant to merchant but most insist on 2 or 3 twin Kingdom pennies to one imperial one.

The twin kingdom penny is usually accepted in the city states, but has a very low value, again usually 2-3 pennies to the city states own lowest denomination coin.

Vondarnules; - A Vondarnule is a silver coin, larger than a penny which by law can only be minted either by the royal mints or by mints owned and operated by the Vondars (see later). Vondarnules are of 25 troy grains in weight and should be 90% silver and 10% of an alloy intended to harden the silver and reduce the risk of “Clipping” coins.

Vondarnules minted by the Vondars generally have their own face upon the coin and MUST depict it facing either left or right. If the Vondar elects to mint coins beating the kings face it MUST face out of the cone (ie a full face portrait). Vondarnules minted by the royal mint always bear the kings face as a full face portrait and include a crown on the rear face (coins minted by mints other than the royal mints may NOT include the crown).

Outside of the Twin Kingdoms it’s value differs from place to place but it is generally accepted (unlike the penny). In the Empire a vondernule is usually valued at between 7 and 9 Imperial pennies.

Royal:- The royal is a gold coin of 26 troy grains weight and 16 carrot purity which by law can only be minted by the royal mint - under penalty of imprisonment or death depending on the extent of the forge minting. They depict the current king of whichever kingdom minted them in face on portrait and wearing his crown on the face of the coin, and on the back of the coin is depicted

Telarvian royals depict Nitisha of Telarv (a war hero and stateswoman of the twin kingdoms) on the rear face of the coin, resplendent in her battle armour but sat upon a throne. Vosorian Royals depict a castle on the rear face of the coin instead.

Royals are accepted in most foreign parts, and the Imperials often accept them at the rate of 1 royal for 1 Imperial gold crown! In the province of Thule Telarvian Royals are usually worth less than Vosorian ones because Nitisha of Telarv is not fondly remembered by the Thulains - whom she fought In Thule Telarvain royals are worth anything from 5 Imperial Shillings to 8 Imperial shillings, whilst Vosarian Royals are worth a full 1 Imperial Crown.

The Imperial Penny (or just Penny);- Weighing in at 24 troy grains and struck from a copper alloy. Pennies have a value of one tenth of a shilling within the Empire and are generally accepted in the twin kingdoms at one Imperial penny to the penny (The Imperials consider this a poor exchange rate as twin kingdoms pennies are worth less than an imperial penny in the Empire).

The purity is strictly regulated and the coins depict eh Imperial shooting star emblem on one side and the Imperial crown on the other. They never display the monarchs head.

The Shilling;- Made from 90% silver and weighing in at 24 troy grains the shilling is worth 10 pennies and is generally accepted in most lands at various exchange rates. The best exchange rate is usually given by the city states, the worst by the Sea Kingdoms and the Kingdom of Colosh.

Struck with the Imperial falling star emblem on one side, newer coins depict the Imperial faith wheel symbol on the other, older coins tend to depict the head of the ruling Emperor when it was struck.

Shillings that depict the likeness of Sevrin the Usurper are now worthless and are best melted down and sold at their scrap value.

The Crown;-A gold coin of 24 troy grains in weight the crown is worth 10 shillings or 100 pennies and is not accepted at all in the Sea Kingdoms where it is actually illegal to own one!

The Gold crown has the picture of an Imperial crown on a falling star on the rear side and the picture of Emperor Gothman I on the front. This depiction of the first Emperor, also known as “The bane of the Priest Kings” is the reason the coins are illegal in the Sea kingdoms, where the depiction or mention of Gothman I is a grave insult.

All imperial coins may only be minted by the Imperial mint, under pain of imprisonment. It is also illegal to deface or melt down any imperial coin except the Severin Shilling, which should be destroyed when encountered.

These differ greatly from city state to city state in appearance although all are 24 troy grains in weight and come in 3 denominations. Coppers, silver and gold. gold coins are worth 12 silver and silver coins are worth 12 copper ones.

The steppes Nomads do not mint coins but may trade in the coins of other nations if the notion takes them. They do value the old Kaffkan cons of the Centari city state which was sacked during the mage wars, but no more are minted. The plains nomads prefer to barter goods.

The Copper;- 27 troy grains in weight and made from a copper/tin alloy these are the lowest denomination coins that were minted by the doomed city. Tehy are accepted in Thule, the Twin Kingdoms and the steppes and variable rates. The Empire values them at 2 pennies apiece because of their historical significance.

Silver Centarims;- Depicting a Centari head on one side and a lightning bolt on the other, these silver coins are 92% silver. they are accepted in Thule, the twin kingdoms, the steppes and h Empire at various rtes. The Empire values them at one and a half shillings due to their historical significance. There is an extremely rare variant named the Grathmalesh Centarim which was minted by the last royal house of Kaffka which the Empire values at a whole crown and which generally purchased by the Imperial school of science in Vorlaran, where they are on display in the history department.

The Gold Horax;- Named after the Centari Deity, Horax the Thunder Steed these very rare coins should weigh 26 troy grains, but most that have been recovered have been “clipped” as they are made from 24 carrot gold and are very soft. Very few survive to the modern day, and most that do are held by teh Imperial school of science in Vorlaran where they are on display in the history department under 24 hour a day watch. The Empire values them at 10 -20 Imperial crowns depending on their condition.

The Coins of Thule;-

As an Imperial client state, Thule uses the Imperial coinage, although they also mint (with the emperors blessing) their own variant which are the same weight and purity but depict the Theocrats head on one side and the Wheel symbol of the Imperial faith on the other. By law they are legal tender in the Empire at the same value as the Imperial coins, although some traders don’t like to take them, claiming not to be able to recognise forgeries as easily.

The Kingdom of Aarr mints no coins as it places no value in them . The Aarcondons (sometime known as Aarvonites) prefer to barter as explained in the Spelldancer rules.