Coin of the Realm (book)
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 |