The Shining Wyrm

3.i

A proper modern Pfennig (Penny) should weigh no less than twenty barley-corn and no more than twenty two of the same on a fair scale. If melted and treated by proper smiths it should be between seven-tenths and eight-tenths true silver.

When stamping one's own coin, though tempting it may be, a lord should never adulterate the pfennig any further than seven-tenths lest it draw doom upon his dominion.

For a day’s labor in the hay fields no more than three Hae Pfennig (half a penny) should be paid, unless there is a desperate need. When harvests are rich and peasant bellies full, vagrant hands should go for a hae penny to a penny depending on the quality of the muscles on the man.

Dynastic Solar Denari is of the purest silver among the imperial coinage at nearly nine-tenths or more and should weigh twenty-four barley-corn if unshaved.

Middle Republic Denari (or Bad Penny) is heavily adulterated with a purity between an eighth and a third silver depending on mint and year and weighs twenty-five barley-corn unshaved most often (but the lumpier casts are as much as thirty barley corn and the weakest eighteen).

Late Republic Grosz are a thick coin, of silver or bronze and is weighted at no less than twelve modern Pfennig of either metal. If bronze, expect a tarnished gold, black or pale steel gold color depending on age and polish. The bronze tender is also thicker than its silver counterpart if you must measure by touch alone.

Trade is best done at weight by scale when dealing with Grosz.

It is important to recognize the metal before seeking to exchange by smith, as the preferred artisan will vary and the exchange can be in better favor if taken to the appropriate trade.

A modern Knight’s Mark is a rarely made but useful denomination for the dealings with one’s lieges and in the accounting of the demesne.

When it is minted, a Mark is one-hundred and eighty-six modern Pfennig by weight on fair scale and measured to a purity of eight-tenths silver always.

A Knight’s Mark, as its name illuminates, is the fair tender to exchange for one annum fief owed in obligations of war.

Such is only valid and honorable if it is given within the fullness of two years and a three season prior to the rally of one’s liege. So as it can be further given to reinforce and muster mercenary or arms in one’s absence.

The Crown Auren is the highest denomination used in the modern era. It is minted to use for affairs of realm dowries for marriage, when obligatory payments made in lieu of service in war would suffer under the weight of silver and the settlement of tribute to bring about peace from conflict.

When minted, it is weighted at two-hundred and sixty-eight barley-corn of gold at no less than eight tenths purity.

It should be kept in soft leather or cushioned chests with no other coinage or metal to avoid loss to wear.

If heavy travel and rough handling is expected the Tarnished Auren is recommended for coinage over the Crown Auren as it is sturdier.

To be Proper a Tarnished Auren is smelted as the alloy with a purity of two-tenths gold to eight tenths silver. A single coin is weighted on fair scale at two-hundred and twenty-one barley-corn and is proper tender to stand at five Tarnished Auren to one Crown Auren.

Of the rarer and less common tender it is best for the discerning lord to bring upon gold and silver artisans or a jeweler of high virtue and trust to make certain the proper weight in gold or silver for the coin and set fair price thereof as one would with an unminted metal.

For foreign coins only the Dynastic Solar Empire and its inheritor republics are common enough to be of concern enough to set the measures and standards to memory.

-Coinage and Lordly Stewardship by Sir Broghuilidad Silvertongue of Cortaza