By far the most common form of trade in Highland is barter, especially outside of the two major cities. Elves, Halflings, and Gnomes work strictly on a barter basis, not trusting coins at all.
There are two major mints in Highland: Crosspoint, in east Highland, and Black Stag in west Highland. Both mints give their coins reeded edges to discourage chipping the metals.
Crosspoint Mint
Coin | Front | Back | Metal | Worth | Weight | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pound | Ship | Sword | gold | 20 monetary units | .06 | nickel |
Bishop’s Pound | Bishop | Sword | gold | 240 monetary units | .6 | half-dollar |
Shilling | Ship | Sword | silver | 1 monetary unit | .06 | quarter |
Penny | Cross | Sword | silver | 1/12th monetary unit | .01 | dime |
Half-penny | Cross | Fish | silver | 1/24th monetary unit | .01 | dime |
Farthing | Cross | Cross | copper | 1/48th monetary unit | .04 | nickel |
In Crosspoint, “the ship and sword” is slang for good money.
Black Stag Mint
Coin | Front | Back | Metal | Worth | Weight | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pound | Stag | ‘Black Stag’ | gold | 20 monetary units | .06 | nickel |
Shilling | Stag | ‘Black Stag’ | silver | 1 monetary unit | .06 | quarter |
Penny | Antlers | ‘Black Stag’ | bronze | 1/12th monetary unit | .06 | nickel |
Half-penny | Antlers | Antlers | bronze | 1/24th monetary unit | .04 | dime |
Farthing | Antlers | Antlers | copper | 1/48th monetary unit | .04 | dime |
Other Mints
Many of the Orders also have or had their own mints, often using a combination of silver and copper known as “electrum” in the Ancient tongue. These coins are often interesting, but hold little value beyond the metals.
Dwarves also mint their own coins. Their coins are larger than normal, about the size of the United States half-dollar. These are so highly crafted that humans prize them as art, paying double, triple, or even more depending on how common that coin has become in human cities. Each Dwarven extended family mints their own coins using different combinations of metals and different styles of art.