Fictional Currencies
Currencies are important for the function of any society, fictional ones included. They allow inhabitants to exchange goods and services, creating a more authentic experience for written worlds and acting as a potential reward system for player oriented worlds. While your world may not need itsβ own monetary system, or may even get along fine just using barter, thinking about this topic as it pertains to your creation is a good exercise.

Synonyms: coin, monetary units |
Example Mythonyms: gil, credits, gold, coin, eBucks |

Designing Fictional Currencies
Overview
If your world has a physical currency, it may be worth thinking about what those physical attributes are and why they are that way. Most physical currency is of a size and weight that is easy to travel with. Some coins were even created with a hole at the center so they could be tied to string making them easier to carry. Often coins will have engravings on them, such as the profile of a leader, god, or symbol representing the region. Coins will come in different sizes, shapes and colors. If your currency has intrinsic value, it will be made of some precious substance β perhaps gold, perhaps something else.

Fictional currencies may have different denominations. This is usually based upon the lowest value coin in circulation. For example, there may be a one cent coin, a five cent coin, a ten cent coin, etc. In addition to this, currencies may switch forms at some arbitrary value β 50 cents may equal one paper monetary note. Keep in mind that if your world does not follow a base ten system, or has specific numbers of great importance to them, coin values and coin denominations may be based on these.

What does your world’s currency look like?
Value
Some currencies hold intrinsic value β a coin made of pure gold for example. Other currencies are worthless on their own, such as paper or electronic currency, but are valuable nonetheless because they are backed by a government or organization. Our own society has progressed from intrinsically valuable currency to extrinsically valuable currency. World governments now guarantee that the paper currency it prints is worth some amount of value even though the paper it might be printed on, or the electronic record of that wealth, is worthless on its’ own. The first step in creating a currency for your world is deciding if it has intrinsic value or not.

Is your worldβs currency intrinsic or extrinsic? If extrinsic, who guarantees its’ value?
Global and Local Currencies
A currency may be widely used, or not widely used. If your currency is universal, it will be accepted anywhere. If your currency is not universal, it may because your world has multiple competing currencies. Take for example two adjacent kingdoms which do not accept each otherβs coins. Certain currencies may even be illegal to use or possess. Fictional worlds with multiple currencies may have vendors that engage in currency exchange (for a fee they will buy currency A and give you currency B).
If your world has multiple currencies, what is the exchange rate and who performs this service?
Ancient Currencies
Worlds with a lengthy history may contain currencies from ancient civilizations that are no longer in existence. These coins may be more or less valuable than the currency currently being used β perhaps they are useless relics of a bygone era, or perhaps they are treasured items of great worth. How rare these currencies are may be linked to how valuable they are perceived to be in your world.

Where would you find an ancient coin in your world?
