Coin of the Realm (book)

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Coin of the Realm
The Currency of the Seven-Star Empire

The history of Imperial currency begins shortly after the empire itself is founded. In 909 BL, Verek, Moliko, Baraliban, and Lirum laid the plans for their grand creation, and Verek became the first emperor the next year. During his term from 908 to 902 BL, the fledgling empire had no single currency. Rather, it continued whatever trade, barter, or coinage system the clans and cities had used previously. With the accession of Empress Taratochs to the throne, that changed.

Among the innovations Taratochs proposed was a system of coinage that would be legal tender throughout the realm, getting rid of bewildering conversions and eliminating money-changers. She proposed that a silver coin be minted, called "Vereks" after the first emperor and bearing the dates of his reign -- 1 to 7 in the Imperial Year system of dating. Her plan was adopted in general, and the coins with Verek's image and dates were minted and circulated throughout the land.

From that time on, it became the established practice to issue coins commemorating the emperor's term in the first year of the succeeding emperor. For example, Empress Taratochs ruled from 8 to 14 IY (901-895 BL), and the coins bearing her image were minted in 15 IY (894 BL). Thus the date of manufacture of an Imperial coin is always one year later than the last date it bears on its face.

One recommendation of Taratochs that was not accepted was the coin's name. Small Imperial coins, worth about a copper today, had come into being out of necessity for a common medium of exchange, but now a new name was needed for a new denomination. Verek modestly discouraged the use of his name, but agreement was not easily achieved. Dwarves wanted to call it a "mint," Humans a "min," Gor'Togs a "dayam," Elotheans an "ariki," and so on. Finally (or so the legend goes) they decided to leave it to the gods. A representative of each of the seven races was seated at a round table, and they put a beetle in a cup, shook it, and turned it upside-down in the middle of the table. The person toward whom the beetle ran when the cup was lifted would make the decision. When the cup was removed, the beetle spread its wings and flew straight up and away. The delegates began to laugh, embarrassed by their earlier squabbles, and since it was the birthday of the Elf Lenyuc, they let him pick the name. He chose "dira," after the Elven word for treasure, and so they were called during the age of the Empire.

If the Imperial diras were legal tender today, the silver in them would make them worth roughly ten kronars, but rarity is one of the factors that determines value, and one cannot find diras in every turnip patch. The number of coins minted varied widely with conditions like the solvency of the Empire, political instability, social unrest, and the fluctuation of commerce. For that reason, no attempt has been made here to set a value on particular coins, but we present this list in the hope that it will be of value to collectors.

Note: Years of reign are listed in IY or Imperial Year.

# Emperor Reigned Image on reverse of coin
1 Verek 1-7 a crowned V
2 Taratochs 8-14 a mason's trowel and the words "Throne city"
3 Lenvuc 15-21 an Imperial crown
4 Moliko the Balance 22-28 a balance scale with a scroll in each pan
5 Baralibas 29-35 outline of Ratha under the imperial crown
6 Gragna the Builder 36-42 a skyline of towers over the words "Throne City"
7 Ushnegi 43-49 a wizard's hat in a circle of seven stars
8 Ponthilas I 50-54 an Imperial crown
9 Gredge 55-61 an Imperial crown
10 Chezarek 62-67 comet in the sign of the Mongoose
11 Moliko the Balance 68-74 a gavel in a circle of seven stars
12 Riini 75-76 an Imperial crown
13 Govutku 77-83 an island above the word "M'Riss"
14 Ithevwe Zsikiel 84-90 a ship a-building
15 Ponthilas II 91-92 an Imperial crown
16 Theksaal I 94-100 an Imperial crown
17 Yashdus 101-107 a city floating on the waves
18 Pumesle 108-112 an Imperial crown
19 Mafescu 113-119 an Imperial crown
20 Rublam the Bold 120-122 an Imperial crown
21 Micholo 123-124 an Imperial crown
22 Cale Rardokin 125-131 a group of explorers and the word "Theren"
23 Dexoch 132-138 an Imperial crown
24 Lenvuc 139-145 an Imperial crown
25 Nerebon 146-152 a box of scrolls and the word "Gealeranendae"
26 Ibti Timbleton 153-159 an Imperial crown
27 Ochanka the Wise 160-166 an Imperial crown
28 Yudathki 167-173 an Imperial crown
29 Jordham Theren 174-180 an Imperial crown
30 Saranell I 181-187 an Imperial crown
31 Nemethyo 188-194 an Imperial crown
32 Ocnovi 195-201 an Imperial crown
33 Demin I 202-207 an Imperial crown
34 Vithwok the Old 208-215 an Imperial crown
35 Mhalduum the Singer 216-222 an Imperial crown
36 Ponthilas III 223-226 an Imperial crown
37 Villigar 227-232 an Imperial crown
38 Lenvuc 233-238 an Imperial crown
39 Cedasye I 239-245 an Imperial crown
40 Ringth 246-252 an Imperial crown
41 Bundirm 253-259 an Imperial crown
42 Asmirhh 260-266 an Imperial crown
43 Rhamos 267-273 an Imperial crown
44 Thvasvadh 274-280 an Imperial crown
45 Sephrorik 281-287 an Imperial crown
46 Mireitha 288-294 an Imperial crown
47 Krael 295-301 an Imperial crown
48 Nishnak 302-308 an Imperial crown
49 Qoemeth 309-315 the words "The Celestial Compact"
50 Ponthilas IV Lucaid 316-318 the Imperial Observatory
51 Saranell II 319-325 a document under three moons
52 Trachcarim 326-333 the Imperial Observatory
53 Piatek 334-340 an Imperial crown
54 Mamni Timbleton 341-347 an Imperial crown
55 Ulthere 348-354 armored Dwarves and the word "Hammerstone"
56 Shakoepi the Dragon 355-361 an Imperial crown
57 Ellington 362-368 an Imperial crown
58 Hresoch 369-375 an Imperial crown
59 Arthitu 376-382 a mason's trowel and the words "Stone Clan"
60 Ishuzca 383-389 an Imperial crown
61 Demin II 390-396 an Imperial crown
62 Gragna II 397-403 an Imperial crown
63 Grathhkep 404-410 a mighty door and the words "Stone Clan"
64 Hermothius 411-415 an Imperial crown
65 Theksaal II 416-422 an Imperial crown
66 Arcadius 423-429 an Imperial crown
67 Colvastus 430-436 an Imperial crown
68 Liicca 437-443 an Imperial crown
69 Vithwok II 444-450 an Imperial crown
70 Zayoshsa 451-457 an Imperial crown
71 Velzeac 458-464 an Imperial crown
72 Thekves 465-471 an Imperial crown
73 Wellumon 472-478 an Imperial crown
74 Cedasye II 479-485 an Imperial crown
75 Frendollur 486-492 an Imperial crown
76 Vithwok the Happy 493-499 the emblem of Throne City surrounded by festival tents
77 Merthamone Vanaya 500-506 sparks falling from a comet
78 Tobias Redthorne 507-511 the Imperial fleet on the waves
79 Glinska 512-518 the Imperial navy smashing a pirate fleet
80 Yashdus II 519-525 an Imperial crown
81 Makudious 526-532 an Imperial crown
82 Seromond 533-539 an Imperial crown
83 Olga 540-546 an Imperial crown
84 Opyur 547-550 an Imperial crown
85 Javaenna 551-557 an Imperial crown
86 Garnust 558-564 an Imperial crown
87 Lelamos 565-571 an Imperial crown
88 Shamyi 572-578 an Imperial crown
89 Peroibo 579-585 an Imperial crown
90 Vridash 586-592 an Imperial crown
91 Basikha 593-599 an Imperial crown
92 Egatna Theren 600-606 an Imperial crown
93 Skadhren 607-613 an Imperial crown
94 Therithien 614-617 an Imperial crown
95 Colvastus II 618-622 an Imperial crown
96 Duniver 623-629 an Imperial crown
97 Grudish 630-634 an Imperial crown
98 Kahtalhh 635-635 an Imperial crown
99 Nardosien 636-636 an Imperial crown
100 Saranell III 637-642 an Imperial crown
101 Bellisterker 643-650 an Imperial crown
102 Klyudor 651-657 an Imperial crown
103 Cambedika 658-662 an Imperial crown
104 Vithwok IV the Young 663-665 an Imperial crown