Coinage

Unlike the real world, coinage on Quartus has been much more stable throughout history, mainly due to magical enforcement. Standards have varied over time and many different devices have graced coins, but four general types of coin have been known.

Ancient Times

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Noefran Imperial Era

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Noefran Post-Cataclysm

The nations of the East still tend to use coinage derived from that of Quan Pei, while the west has mostly (in the Federated Nations at least), settled on the Council Mark as the standard of coinage. Each nation mints their own, but weights and purities are standardized. For ease of adventuring, all adventuring pricing and valuation is done in the Council Mark unit. These coins are still minted all over the Successor States and represent the bulk of the FNC coinage in circulation, although

Council Mark System

First derived by the dwarves of Fuar Uulan for the Council Lands, the Council Mark is a decimal metallic monetary system using four metals as references: platinum, gold, silver, and copper (really bronze). All coins are standardized to 50 per pound (actually defining the pound as 50 gold Council Marks) and 1 platinum piece = 10 gold pieces = 100 silver pieces = 1000 copper pieces. In reality, since a platinum mark is so valuable and rare, all valuation uses the gold council mark as a reference. All alloys are standardized to 90%:10%, with the 10% usually being copper (or tin in the case of the copper mark).

Platinum Coins

The platinum mark, often called a "moon mark" in the Successor States is 90% platinum and 10% cobalt. They get their name because they were commonly struck with the twin crescent moons facing each other in the dwarven mints at Kaelthia. The reverse contains, as usual, a glyph for the minting year. In size, they're about the size of a modern US dime--about 2 cm in diameter, 1.3 mm in thickness. The edges are reeded (knurled, cut into lines like the US dime). The Wyrmhold platinum crown is similar, but stamped with the mark of the crown and a stylized dragon on the reverse. Byssia does not mint platinum coins, preferring to use (where necessary) those of other nations. The former Stone Throne minted the blue serpent coins, where the cobalt gave a blue sheen to the stamped coiled serpent.

Gold Coins

Gold marks are the largest coin in common use. Classic Successor States gold marks are nicknamed "god marks" or "holies", as they are conventionally marked with one of the symbols of the Seasonal Four depending on the season of coinage on the obverse. In size, they're about the same as a modern US penny--1.5 mm thick and about 2 cm in diameter, with reeded edges. Wyrmhold gold dragons have a crowned dragon on the obverse with a laurel wreath on the reverse. Asai'ka ororobai have a serpent eating its tail on the obverse and a phrase in Iath Neidr on the obverse (written counter-clockwise around the edge); neither the Serpent Dominion nor the Sha'slar Autonomous Zone commonly mint their own gold coins. Byssian palms are thinner and larger and often irregular, with plain reverses and a palm leaf on the obverse. They're fairly rare.

Silver Coins

Silver coins make up the bulk of the actively-used coinage and are commonly called a "tenpenny" throughout the FNC. Those minted in the Successor States have a stylized mountain on the obverse and an inscription praising Kela Loran on the reverse. Wyrmhold silver pieces have a tree on the obverse and a celtic-style cross on the reverse. Asai'ka silver coins are stamped with whatever the current ruler's profile is, with an inscription praising the Queen Ascendant on the reverse. Serpent Dominion silvers have a serpent fang on the obverse, but similar reverses. Byssian silvers have a stylized flame on the obverse and waves on the reverse.

Copper Coins

Technically, all the coppers are really bronze. But who's checking. Usually just called a "penny". Since their metal value isn't really bound to their face value, there is much more variation, with each larger populated area (possibly even down to the town) minting their own. As long as they basically keep to the standards, no one cares.

Soefran Coins

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