Imperial Currency

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Imperial Currencies are the various different types of money that are used across the Imperium. While human life itself is the only universal currency in the Imperium, (with contracts for bartered goods second) most monetary currencies only retain their value within their specific locale, such as a select planet or system. What primarily drives goods and services between stars is barter, favours, debts, and obligations.[16]

Overview

Generally, currency consists of whatever objects are a common exchange unit in a given locale - government coins, intangible ledger-data, ammunition, gold nuggets, even shells picked from a beach. The currencies of mankind are as varied as the worlds of the Galaxy.[15b]

A major trade hub such as Port Wander, situated on the border between the Calixis Sector and Koronus Expanse, might see a hundred different currencies brought in by merchants and Rogue Traders - even some that were issued by said Rogue Traders, for many such men and women of power wish to see their face upon coins and parchment notes. In such a place, even the money-changers of the Administratum may prove corrupt or simply busy, and thus a mix of currencies continues to be used.[15b]

Human systems isolated from the Imperium may have varied currency within their own worlds. While some like Nadeush are able to maintain paper currency and scrip backed by the wealth of the local Maraj noble families, others like war-torn Zayth has each mobile hive city circulating their own currencies of stamped ingots of precious metals hung upon loops of silver wire, and still other worlds have resorted to barter with both parties being heavily armed.[15b]

In the void of space, pirates, often the descendants of Imperial outcasts and refugees, may understand the value of more standardized Imperial currency - yet to use these for trade without a display of force or bloodshed is often seen as a weakness. More ruthless pirates and Corsairs might trade in hacksilver, technology, ammunition, even slaves - with even darker rumours abounding of trapped souls and bottled life.[15b]

Despite all this, when the time comes, a more standardized Segmentum-wide currency such as Thrones will be what is used to assess and evaluate the value of goods and materials for the Imperial Tithe[15b] in comparison to other Imperial factions.[15c]

Listed here are some examples of currencies in the Imperium, both those widely used or those more specific to smaller locations.

List

Name Notes
Aquila Pieces Coins used during the Great Crusade[1] and Horus Heresy in various denominations, including a Five Aquila Piece, which was about the same size as a Throne.[2]
Aquilas Currency used in the Moebian Domain in present day M42, also known as Moebian Aquilas. Rectangular pieces of metal stamped with the Aquila iconography and text "Imperium of Man". Akin to a large coin.[11]
Bone chips The inhabitants of Thaur trade with bone chips believed to be the work of venerable carving-masters.[16]
Caligari Credits Used on the Imperial worlds of the Caligari Sector.[9]
Credits Used on Necromunda in M41.[3]
Crowns Used from the Great Crusade[4] to M41 on Karoscura.[5]
Ducats Golden trade coins issued by Navigator Houses able to be used as currency wherever their ships travelled in M41.[6a]
Estrillian Newmarks Used on Atraxia. A tarot deck could potentially be bought for as few as 27 Newmarks.[8]
Gelt The Blessed Remuneration of Service, or “gelt” as it is commonly called, is the dominant coin used on Juno. Despite being the capital world of the Askellon Sector, it has little value elsewhere in the sector.[16]
Guild Scrip Guild Scrip, sometimes simply called "scrip", is the standard currency on Desoleum when oath-cog adjustments are insufficient or impractical, or when dealing with offworlders without oath-bindings.[16]
Scrip Various forms of scrip might be used to pay labourers in place of a local legal currency. These more limited internal currencies are often only valuable aboard a specific ship,[18] guild or other organisation.[16]
Slates Used on Alecto.[10] Slates can be both transacted and stored physical slates or digitally via the use of a personal currency wand (data wand). Although these are as valuable as the currency data stored within and are easily stolen. Most of the population relies on chit books and ration tokens.[17]
Solars Used on Voll, a world within the Macharian Sector.[12] Golden solars are used as Service Identity Tags for Guardsmen regiments from said sector.[13]
Sabulorb shekels Used on Sabulorb.[14]
Terces Silver coin, used on Medusa in M41.[6b]
Thrones Gelt coins that have been used since Horus Heresy,[2] in the Calixis Sector up to present day M41.[7] In the present day it is one of many currencies accepted throughout Segmentum Obscurus and used to measure value for the Imperial Tithe.[15b] Each Throne gelt coin is the same size as a Five Aquila Piece.[2]

Profit Factor

A table with examples/estimates of the average Profit Factor equivalents for various factions and leaders in the Imperium[15c]

The great wealth afforded by a Rogue Trader, coupled with the sheer differences in local currencies, makes it impractical for them to make regular use of something so trivial as currency. The counting of currency is thought of as work more befitting scribes and commoners. Rogue traders stand far, far above the tyranny of coin that causes most men to check their purse whether they can afford their next meal. Whether it is acquiring a relic weapon, yet another mercenary company, a thousand lasguns, a set rare gems or a vortex torpedo, Rogue Traders find it more convenient to measure their wealth in terms of Profit Factor, calculated by his or her loyal scribes.[15b] Profit Factor can be used to measure the relative power of a Rogue Trader's dynasty,[15a] particularly compared to other Imperial factions[15c].

Images

  • A Moebian Aquila [11]

  • Solars [12]

  • Examples of currency used on Lyubov

See also

Sources

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This article includes background material from a Black Library publication re-released under the Heretic Tomes banner which, per the Heretic Tomes Publication Disclaimer, contain parts which are considered outdated and in contradiction of established background lore.

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