In Osterin, all transactions are based on a bartering system. In the east, mostly Aridia, this is more of a literal bartering system, where some good or service is directly exchanged for another. This also takes place in some places in Lianti. However, in Attarnon, most bartering takes place with a coin system.
The coins, at their simplest, are pieces of metal with a value and a symbol stamped into them. The symbol serves an important function – it names the smith who determined the value of the coin. If the coin is determined to be counterfeit in some way, such as being a bit of iron plated in gold, or if the stamped value is inaccurate, the smith can be prosecuted under the law – or, occasionally, outside of the law, depending on who his coins affect. As such, smiths guard their stamps very closely.
Some smith symbols are recognized instantly across most of Attarnon, and the coins are accepted at face value with no questions asked, since the smith has proven himself trustworthy. Unknown smith symbols are more likely to be examined closely by the merchant accepting them.
There are several methods that have been devised to cheat the system, though none of them are in widespread use. The first involves shaving small pieces off the coins, leaving the symbol and the value intact, but the coin a little lighter. This is time consuming, however, and is not worth the time is takes for the little value it provides, except perhaps for the higher value coins. Another tactic that has been attempted is to reproduce a certain smith’s mark, either to pass off counterfeit coins, or to discredit a smith. However, smith symbols are complex and difficult to reproduce, and a merchant’s eyes are sharp.
The values of coins are determined by the value of the metal used to craft them. Iron coins, called ferits, are the cheapest. These are often not even stamped, as their value is so low that there would be no sense in counterfeiting them. Copper is next, and are called cuvers. It takes 45 ferits to equal the value of a single cuver. Steel coins are called dachals, and are the most common coin found in Attarnon. A dachal is worth 20 cuvers. Next is silver, common among high-priced transactions. These coins are called argets, and are worth 20 dachals. Last, and worth 20 argets each, are the aurits, made of gold. These are extremely rare, and only a few smiths are known to even make them.
Editing update: Finished that last scene, though it may still need a bit of tweaking. Made a list of all the edits that need to be done, and working through that. Don’t expect much from the next couple weeks. Christmas and all.