Hello my fellow Bookworms and Page Turners,
It’s been 7 years since my first writing hurdle post which was on currency back in 2015. Seven years is along time, but have I managed to learn anything in that time? what has changed? lets dive in and take a look.
Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes
Edward Ward, Playwright
And you cant pay your taxes without currency, so like it or lump it we all need it, and believe me there is still nothing more in this world that I hate, then Maths!… (please note I also work in finance)
The names of fictional units of currency are often based on extant or historic currencies (e.g. “Roman aureus” or “Earth yen”) l. in science fiction it is common to have an electronically managed currency such as ‘credits’.
I feel it is important for authors to take care when naming their fictional currencies, as it could be incredibly jarring to have a completely alternative world to ours call their currency a Dollar or a Yen. However in a future setting these recognisable terms could be used to show how history has progressed from our current stand-point. Therefore, adding depth to the economic standing of the world.
So taking this into consideration, that my current WIP happens in the afterlife of our own world, it would make sense to have remnants of currencies from the past and the present, which can be judged by the wealth of the materials they contain, rather than their weight from an accountancy perspective. Or at least some-kind of matter alternative that retains the same naming structure.
Much like back in 2015, I turned to my predecessors for inspiration and made a small table outlining the names of the currencies in their work.
| The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy | Altairian Dollar, Flanian Pobble Bead, Triganic Pu subunit: Ningi (1/8) |
| Harry Potter series | Galleon subunits: Sickle (1/17), Knut (1/493)). |
| The Kingkiller Chronicle: Vintas | Halfpenny/Penny (2 Halfpennies)/Bit (2.5 Pennies)/Quarter Bit (2 Bits)/Round (8 Quarter Bits)/Royal (10 Rounds)/Haft (10 Bits)/Noble (2 Hafts)/Reel (2.5 Nobles)/Five Reel Piece (5 Reels) |
| The Kingkiller Chronicle: Ceald | Shim/Iron Drab (11 Shims)/Copper Jot (10 Drabs)/Silver Talent (10 Jots)/Gold Mark (10 Talents) |
| The Kingkiller Chronicle: Commonwealth | Iron Penny (3 Shims)/Ha’Penny (3 Iron Pennies)/Copper Penny (2 Ha’Pennies)/Silver Penny (10 Copper Pennies)/Common (12 Silver Pennies) |
| Legend trilogy | Republic Notes (or just Notes) |
| A Song of Ice and Fire (Westeros) | Gold Dragon (denominations: Silver Stag and Copper Penny) |
| World of Greyhawk Novels and RPG system by Gary Gygax | Iron Drab, Brass Bit, Bronze Zee, Copper Common, Silver Noble, Electrum Lucky, Gold Orb, Platinum Plate |
From these I think my currency would be more on the lines of Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles, as much as I do love a good fantasy coin name, I am afraid it doesn’t fit in with my current WIP.
Unlike like my previous work, I thought it would be fun to base my economy purely on the wealth that people were buried with, which would mean that aside the occasional King, Emperor or Pharaoh, the main currency would be silver, which was traditionally given to pay the ferryman. So our main currency would be based in Silver, and its more recent residents would originally arrive penniless.
Now keeping this in mind, it is time for the hardest part, picking the name for my currency.
So my currency for the moment.. looks a little like this:
| A New Beginning, Soul Society #1 – J. S Harrison | ‘Gold’, ‘Drachma’ (1/2 Gold), ‘Tri-Obol’ (1/2 Drachma) ‘Obol’ (1/6 – Drachma) |
That’s all I really have for now, but please let me know what you think, and if you have a similar problem or a even better solution! Its good to share knowledge after all!
Until next time, read more books!
Between|the|Blurb 