Currency of the Mortal Realms

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Aqua Ghyranis

Currency is a form of accepted money that can be exchanged for goods and services. Currency can often be divided into Fiat Currency, Commodity Currency, and Representative Currency. Many of the currencies of the Mortal Realms take the form of Commodity Currency, meaning the currencies are themselves trade goods.

Each of the Mortal Realms is brimming with commerce, much of which is done through bartering and trade. But with the re-opening of the Gates of Azyr and rise of the Cities of Sigmar as bastions of trade and civilization, many forms of Currency have become widespread.[1a]

Currencies Throughout the Realms

Aqua Ghyranis

Within the Free Cities the substance known as Aqua Ghyranis has become one of the most common and widely accepted forms of currency within Sigmar's Empire, largely replacing coinage.[1a] Aqua Ghyranis is heavily regulated through the use of Divination Plates, rune-covered devices that can be used to test the purity of Aqua Ghyranis without removing the water from their glass containers. Such devices are considered a necessity by any banks, counting houses, currency exchanges, merchants, or business owners using Aqua Ghyranis.[1a][17a]

The use of Aqua Ghyranis as a currency is not exclusive to Sigmar's Empire, as it is also occasionally used by those mortal kingdoms vassalized by the Ossiarch Empire, Grave-Empires of the Soulblight Gravelords, and other nations of Death.[20a]

Glimmerings

Though the Glimmerings of Excelsis are not nearly as widespread as Aqua Ghyranis, they have nonetheless become well-known and highly valued across the Mortal Realms.[1a]

Coinage in the Mortal Realms

Despite the ascendance of Aqua Ghyranis, coins made of precious metal are still prominently used as an accepted currency in many markets across the Mortal Realms such as the Sky-ports of the Kharadron and even some Free Cities such as Excelsis and Greywater Fastness.[1a][2a][3] To facilitate those merchants and establishments who prefer coinage, and other currencies besides, many Cities of Sigmar will have thriving currency exchanges, some of which double as banks.[6a][17a]

The metals most often used for coinage are copper, silver, and gold. These coins range wildly in terms of value, size, denomination, and abundance. Some, like the Comet, varieties are known to be minted in denominations of all three metals.[3][4a][7a][24a] Meteoric Iron is also occasionally used for minting coins, with Meteors and Motes being two well known examples.[2a][3] Still others, such as the Tatrak, are made of common metals like simple iron.[4]

Coinage made from gold is often considered of particular value, such coins often being considered high-end currencies. In some places, the wealth gained from receiving but a singular gold coin can convince mortals to take on dangerous tasks they'd refuse in most circumstances.[23b] Coins known to be minted from gold or gold alloys include Doubloons[4a], Quarter-Shares[7a], and Torope-Chaw made of Torope-Gold.[2b]

In the Bone Desert coinage is still widespread enough that a counterfeiting enterprise has arisen around it. These counterfeit coins are made by renegades of the Jelali Banking Guild, the criminal network centred around Hazim's Parlour is connected to these renegades in some manner.[23a]

Coinage throughout the Mortal Realms is often stamped with the faces of important personages. In regions dominated by Khornate warlords, like the Reaver Wastes of the Flamescar Plateau, such iconography is meaningless and the worth is determined by the weight of any given coin.[16b] Similarly Grave Coins, a common currency in the Realm of Shyish, are valued more for their Amethyst Magic they contain rather than the origins, denominations, or content of the coins themselves.[20a]

Not all coinage in the Mortal Realms is made of metal, other materials are also popular in depending on the region, resources available, and other factors. In the Realm of Chamon the Free City of Ravensbach uses coins made of teakwood as legal tender. In the Realm of Shyish the mortals of the Underworld of Stygxx use coins made of ivory.[4b][18a] Ivory Pebbles are another variety of ivory coin.[4a] Stone coins with burning coals of Emberstone at the center are known to exist as well, serving as a high-end currency like most other Realmstone currencies.[21a]

Realmstone

Types of Realmstone

Another common form of currency traded throughout the Mortal Realms is Realmstone, solidified magic. Each of the eight principal lores of Magic have a corresponding Realmstone; Aetherquartz for Hysh, Amberbone for Ghur, Celestium for Azyr, Chamonite for Chamon, Cyclestone for Ghyran, Emberstone for Aqshy, Falsestone for Ulgu, and Grave-sand for Shyish. Each most commonly found in their corresponding Realm. Warpstone found predominantly in Blight City, Varanite from the Eightpoints, and Nullstone which is the Realmstone of the Aetheric Void are three other prominent types of Realmstone.[21a]

There is a myriad of forms and denominations with which Realmstone currencies appear in markets across the Mortal Realms. These can range from raw shards, cut gems, singular grains held in glass containers, coins with a small chunk of Realmstone set in the centre, and many other strange, and often esoteric, forms.[21a]

Due to the rarity and difficulty of acquiring Realmstone, all types tend to serve as high-end currencies when used as such, with even small shards and grains used most often used for massive transactions between empires rather than legal tender for common markets and services. Though in those places where the supply of Realmstone is stable, such as settlements that are established to mine it, it serves as an alternative to more common currencies such as Aqua Ghyranis.[21a]

While Varanite is mostly only used as a currency among the warbands of the Eightpoints and Warpstone mainly only by the verminous Skaven, the other nine major varieties of Realmstone are accepted in all eight Mortal Realms. The value of each type varies wildly from region to region, though the difficulty in acquiring all of these substances and their high demand tends to cause their values to roughly average out to roughly equal prices.[21a]

Aqua Ghyranis, which is commonly traded across the Mortal Realms, is known to be a heavily diluted form of Cyclestone.[21a]

Common Currencies of Shyish

To the majority undead that now dominate the Underworlds of Shyish fair commerce and trade are alien concepts. For most Nagash has freed them from their natural pangs of hunger and thirsts, baubles hold little value to most Undead, and only a rare few would consider exploiting wealth to improve their afterlives. Nevertheless trade, and with it, currency has taken root, especially within those cities and vassal nations where mortals can be found. Though the currencies of Death are often macabre, the most common being Bones, Blood, and coins infused with necromantic power.[20a]

Bones serve as the state currency and chief building material of the ever-expanding Ossiarch Empire. Throughout the empire, its vassal nations, and neighbouring lands the dreaded Bone-tithe must be paid, with even Deathrattle Kingdoms and Flesh-Eater Courts subjected to the tithe. Purebone serves as a somewhat measurable form of bone currency used throughout the empire.[12a][20a]

Blood has become one of the most commonly traded currencies of the Realm of Death. Soulblight Vampires require blood to survive due to the curse upon their souls and most prefer blood taken from mortals, not always from the willing. Thus Spiceblood, blood flavoured in myriad ways, has become commonly traded throughout their domains.[20a] During the occupation of Radukar and his Thirsting Court, blood was used within the city of Ulfenkarn as a means for mortals to buy food or rent out room and board, many business owners would use this acquired blood to excuse themselves from personally paying the blood tithe; acting as both currency and commodity.[10b][10c]

Grave Coins are the third common currency used by the Forces of Death. These are coins that were buried or entombed alongside the dead during funerary rites and have, over the years, been imbued with necromantic power.[20a]

Other

Gold is widely known to be the only payment accepted by the lodges of the Fyreslayers and as such it is stockpiled by all nations and cities, such as the Cities of Sigmar, that desire to hire them as mercenaries, and by any who suspect they may become desperate enough to do so in the future.[11a]

In the Realm of Azyr the economy is based around a system of weighted gems and jewels. The settlers who helped found the Cities of Sigmar in the Great Parch brought this monetary system with them, though many locals, such as the Bataari, prefer their long-established barter systems.[1b]

Seashells are used as a form of currency within the Enclave of Briomdar. They can be exchanged for goods and services in the markets of the enclaves. These shells are notable for having the soul imprints of the enclave's famed leaders on them.[9a]

Within the Six Circles, the domains of Slaanesh in the Realm of Chaos, few currencies hold more value than that of truths pried from dying foes. Keepers of Secrets greatly value these secret truths and hold those who bring such secrets to them in high regard.[19a]

Market Scrip is accepted in the markets of Carngard, a despicable and vile city found within the Allpoints.[22a]

Standard Exchange Rates

The standard currency of many of the Cities of Sigmar is the life-giving water known as Aqua Ghyranis. With the most commonly accepted units of the currency being Drops, Phials, and Spheres.

While the values can fluctuate from city to city, the table below lists off the most common units of Aqua Ghyranis as of the Arcanum Optimar, the era that followed the devastation of the Necroquake[1a]:

Exchange Rate of Aqua Ghyranis
1 sphere = 1 sphere
= 10 phials
= 100 drops

Exchange Rates of Common Currencies

The following table contains a list of the standardized values of other currencies in comparison to Aqua Ghyranis. These however can fluctuate greatly from Realm to Realm, nation to nation. For example in the Realm of Shyish the value of Aqua Ghyranis is higher in an afterlife wherein living mortals live, than in one mostly dominated by the dead. Though blood is useless as a currency in most cases, it is highly valued in lands dominated by Soulblight Vampires. [20a]:

Exchange Rate of Mortal Realms Currencies:
1 glimmering = 1 sphere of Aqua Ghyranis[8a]
An ingot of gold bullion = 1 sphere of Aqua Ghyranis[11a]
A kilobar of gold = 1 phial of Aqua Ghyranis[11a]
One digit of Purebone = 1 drop of Aqua Ghyanis[20a]
One complete limb of Purebone = 1 phial of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
One Medium-sized skeleton of Purebone = 1 sphere of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
One vial of Spiceblood = 1 drop pf Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
One goblet of Spiceblood = 1 phial of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
One bottle of Spiceblood = 1 sphere of Aqua Ghyanis[20a]
A Grave Coin clipping = 1 drop of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
A whole Grave Coin = 1 phial of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]
Ten Grave Coins = 1 sphere of Aqua Ghyranis[20a]

Exchange Rates of Realmstone

Realmstone, rare and potent forms of pure crystallized magic, have long persisted as a form of currency throughout all the Realms, outlasting empires, ages, and even gods. Below is a table showing the equivalent exchange rates of the most common types of pure Realmstone compared to Aqua Ghyranis, though values can vary.[21a]

Exchange Rate of Realmstone:
Aetherquartz 1 gem (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Amberbone 1 shard (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Celestium 1 grain = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Chamonite 1 fluid oz. = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Cyclestone 1 chip (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Emberstone 1 coal (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Falsestone 1 wisp (immeasurable) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Grave-sand 1 grain = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Warpstone 1 gem (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Varanite 1 fluid oz. = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis
Nullstone 1 shard (1 oz.) = 300 Drops of Aqua Ghyranis

List of Known Currencies

List of Realmstone Currencies

Despite the unpredictable and unstable nature of Realmstone, many cultures throughout the Realms have used varying types as currencies, usually in crystalline form. The extreme value of Realmstone to traders and spellcasters ensures that such substances always have a place in the markets of many cities.[1a] The high value of Realmstone leads to it being used more often as a currency traded between empires, rather than traded between merchants. Though there are many places, such as settlements that are built to mine Realmstone, where the supply of Realmstone is stable enough to be used as an alternative to Aqua Ghyranis.[21a]

  • Aetherquartz: Aetherquartz became a widespread currency in the nations of the Realm of Light, not long after the seers of the realm learned to harness the light of Hysh into special prisms. The most common forms of Aetherquartz currency are gem-like beads, jewels, and necklaces.[13b]
  • Amberbone: The Realmstone of Ghur is most often used as a currency in the form of shards. These shards are heavily circulated among Ogors and Orruks through a simple system of gift-giving, trading favours, and debt.[21a]
  • Celestium: A common means of using Celestium as a currency involves a singular grain placed in a glass sphere full of water. A blue-white light glimmers within the water so long as the grain of Celestium remains.[21a]
  • Chamonite: After its discovery in the Age of Myth, Chamonite became a major currency for many of the nations and empires of the Spiral Crux.[13a] Tempered glass spheres contain orbs of Chamonite often serve as currency, they are most often found in cities with strong alchemical traditions.[21a]
  • Cyclestone: Fragments of Cyclestone are used by Sylvaneth, begrudgingly, when bartering with outsiders.[21a]
    • Aqua Ghyranis: The life-giving waters, which contain Cyclestone, of Ghyran are often placed into glass containers and used as a commodity currency. The most common units of this currency are Drops, Phials, and Spheres. The water is also highly valued for its healing and curative effects, as it can heal many sicknesses, mend wounds, and purify Chaos taint.[1a][21a]
  • Emberstone: Ore containing Emberstone is often turned into stone coins, with a lump of tiny, smouldering Emberstone coal at the centre.[21a]
  • Falsestone: Falsestone is traded heavily in the Realm of Ulgu, typically in transactions involving complicated bluffs and counter-bluffs.[21a]
  • Grave-sand: Grave-sand is most often used as a currency by the inhabitants of Realm of Shyish. Typically a singular grain is stored within an hourglass no bigger than a thimble. It is easily discernible among the other particles in the hourglass due to its amethyst hue and glowing nature.[21a]
  • Nullstone: By far the most stable variety of realmstone currency.[21a]
  • Varanite: Lumps of Varanite, which have been cooled and solidified, are used as tribute by those tribes warring across the Eightpoints.[21a]
  • Warpstone: Warpstone is the only currency used within the Blight City, though it comes in a variety of forms including flakes, chips, and powder.[21a]

Sea Also

  • Great Hogshead: Large, armoured barrels used by the Freeguilds to transport the Aqua Ghyranis that serves as the payment and primary method of healing their soldiers while on a campaign.

Sources