THE CURRENCY

The Anuirean Empire once set the standard for currency across most of Cerilia and even today, many nations still accept Anuirean coins as well as their own currency. In the days of the Empire, all Anuirean coins were minted at the Imperial Mint in the city of Anuire, but as the empire slowly broke up, most of the new nations soon started to mint their own coins, featuring their rulers and leaders. Then, when the Imperial Mint refused to mint anything by the official currency, many nations created their own mints.

The Imperial City of Anuire has always set the standard for coinage, and even in these troubled times the Imperial Mint continues to produce coins for many of the Anuirean nations. However, unlike much of Anuire, merchants in the Imperial City do not accept coins minted elsewhere, even from other Anuirean nations. This is a popular law among the people of the city, and it is a matter of pride and honour to them. To most residents the city is still the centre of the empire and if anyone is going to buy anything here, then they had better be using Imperial Coins, minted in the Imperial Mint or they won't be served.

TABLE 2.X: THE ANUIREAN CURRENCY

Gold Bar: (or Trade Bar as it is sometime known) is not an actual commonly used by the people of the Imperial City, but the Imperial Mint does produce a number of these heavy gold bars each year. The Gold Bar is used mainly by regents for transferring large amounts of money from one kingdom to another. The bars are extremely heavy, and weighs approximately the same as two thousand Crowns, but take up less space and are easier to transport that coins. Each bar is inscribed with a mark indicating the year it was made in, and the coat of arms of kingdom it was produced for.

Emperor: The Emperor (also known as the Roele) is the highest denomination coin currently in use in Anuire. It is a large gold coin approximately three times the size and weight of a crown, although its value is higher that its size would suggest. Traditionally, the head of the reigning emperor is imprinted on one side of the coin, while the date of issue and the mark of the Imperial Mint are found on the other. However, as there is no emperor currently sitting on the Iron Throne, the coin instead features the coat of arms of the Roele family, hence the coins current popular name. Today, these coins are only produced by the mint in the Imperial City of Anuire, but older coins may still be found in circulation in lands once controlled by the empire.

Crown: The Crown is a small gold coin that serves as the standard denomination coin for most Anuirean nations. The official coin is marked on one side with the seal of the Imperial Mint and a date of production, while the other side features the image of the State Crown of Anuire, one of the more recognisable imperial symbols. Other mints in Anuire usually choose to replace the crown with their regent's image, or an emblem important to their nation. Some examples include the Avanil coins that feature the dragon bloodmark common to the Avan family, and the Mhoried coins that display the Mhor's coat of arms.

Shield: The Shelid is a large silver coin, about the size and thickness of the Emperor, but much lighter. Among the majority of Anuire's citizens, it is standard unit of currency, and while few people will ever see a crown, most will deal with pennies on a daily basis. The official coin minted in the Imperial City features an image of the Iron Throne on one side and these coins are occasionally referred to as thrones. Many nations in Anuire mint their own version of this coin and while they may vary widely in shape and size, all have the same value.

Half Shield: The Half-Sheild is simply a Shield that has been sliced in half. Officially, this coin doesn't exist, but it remains legal tender in most of city's shops and taverns. Coins that have been damaged or corroded are also sometimes called Half Sheilds, as well as foreign coins that look similar, but lack the official markings.

Blade: The Blade is a large copper coin, with one side imprinted with the year of production and the other side bearing the insignia of the Imperial Mint. Again, this is a widely used coin among the poorer districts.

Cup: The Cup is the lowest denomination coin in the Imperial City. It is a small copper coin, with one side featuring a picture of a goblet and the other the year of production.

Money Changing
Foreign coins, especially those from Khinasi and Brechtür, but also those minted by other Anuirean nations, are not viable currency in the Imperial City and must be changed for local currency. Officially, the only place this can be legally done is at the Imperial Mint, which levies a surcharge of 10% on all transactions (20% on coins from Aduria). This is the cheapest service of its type in the city, but all transactions are noted, and often used as a way of keeping track of newcomers to the city, especially potential troublemakers. Anyone changing a lot of foreign currency would be certain to draw the attention of the City Watch, or the Chamberlain himself if a noble was involved. There have been incidents in the past where foreign powers have attempted to set up new guilds and upset the city's delicate balance. The Chamberlain's officials are always alert for future trouble.
There are, however, a number of unofficial places to change coins, as well as other valuables, into local currency. They all charge a small percentage, ranging from 10-25% for this service, but they are usually more discreet than the Imperial Mint. Some of these money changers include: