Currency

Near the end of the fourth millennium, several banking clans and trade unions banded together to introduce a new currency to help manage trade between nations and solve the silver and copper shortage. The shortage had been caused by many traders melting down silver for its anti-magical properties and copper being hoarded by alchemists and engineers for its conductive properties. A surplus of gems that were too small or had imperfections that limited their use in spell casting and jewelry, would eventually become what is called Cut Currency. These gems were cut to size and used to phase out non-gold coins. To help create a reliance on them, gold was flooded into markets to drive down its value, bringing the gems into circulation. By the late 4,100s, most merchants found the Cut Currency to be safer and more stable than that of any one nation. It was able to keep its value throughout war and disaster. Long distance traders also were able to cut down on profit loss by not having to switch currency between nations.

During the refining and cutting process, the inside of the gems is marked with a set of magical runes that link it to a specific bank or hold, where its value in gold is held.

Garnet 10g

Amethyst 50g

Ruby 100g

Sapphire 500g

Emerald 1,000g

Diamond 5,000g