Hârnic Currencies-3.pdf

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Background Currencies in Hârn should not be considered to be equal, as any good mercantyler or alchemist knows. Many is the time when rulers have had their treasury re-minted in debased form to disguise and manage an embarrassment of riches. Always attempted in secret, but rarely successfully implemented without notice, the coins of many realms will go through the occasional re-minting, and it is the job of the folk of Hârn to notice and profit, or miss the opportunity. This is of course paralleled in the history of Europe. Typically every monarch upon assumption of their throne will inaugurate their rule with the issue of new coin bearing their likeness, even if they never issue any further coin in their reign. The Philosophy of Money It may not be immediately important why we need to discuss the philosophy of money, but it is important to understand why others assess something to be valuable. Consider this example, there have been numerous societies where the accepted unit of currency is the blanket, being a piece of homespun of given dimensions. This is typical of tribal societies who see little value beyond decoration in gold or other soft metals. Salt has also been used, due to its durability, light weight and usefulness in preserving foods for winter. The usual reasons for gold being considered valuable include the fact it retains its colour and doesn't rust, it is attractive, ductile, and hard to obtain. Different nations will maintain a different set of attitudes as to what makes money valuable. There are two prevailing ideas to do with currencies, one is that the metal itself has value (Purist), and thus its purity is of utmost importance, the other is that currency is what lawmakers say it is (Fiat). Amongst the Dwarves of Azadmere where metalworking has a mystical dimension we find the strongest Purist sentiment, and a religious sense of the purity of metal being the source of its value, closely followed by their allies in Kaldor who hold the least debased human currency due to the purity of Dwarven silver brought down from the mountains in trade. For a long time the dwarves of Azadmere held the monopoly of all minting on Hârn, and they are the source of the current state of equivalency across all currencies and Mints.

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The Dwarven system prevails even as their power has waned. Melderyn closely monitors the purity of the coins of other nations, and will debase new issue only as much as might be considered average across their trading partners. Rethem has without doubt the most debased currency in Hârn, and while knowing that most of Hârn follows a Purist idea of value seem to delight in funding their wars with plundered metal rendered impure through debased re-coining, as such, they are solidly in the fiat camp while protesting otherwise. The Orbaalese have been burned in currency deals with Rethem, and know that they will face civil unrest if their King is discovered attempting to debase his coins, so they are staunch Purists, though they are not prolific coin minters. Chybisa during the wars which saw its contraction saw fit to debase their coin quite badly, but now in their reduced state are attempting to regain lost trust by re-minting reliable Kaldoric coins as their own. Kanday holds to its honor but has been hard pressed by Tharda and Rethem and so has been forced against their preference to meet shortfalls by debasing their coin. Tharda are highly pragmatic and have chosen a policy of insuring their coin is slightly less pure than Kanday, following a policy similar to that of Melderyn of remaining competitive in purity, but not constricting their supply of coin with obsessiveness, they are at heart believers in fiat currency viewing the coins of all realms as mere commodities to barter. Evael has ceased issuing coin since it surrendered its control of Hârn and withdrew to the Shava forest. While the elves maintained coin of great purity and a superior manufacture, they are supreme believers in Fiat, holding that currency is bean counting and an exercise in tokenism, that the wise justice of a good king and the skilled work of the people are the true measure of wealth, but savages love their shiny toys and will not be denied. The coins circulating in Evael are primarily those of other realms. Some say that Evael's treasury is filled with premium elven coin, others that they have long since been melted down by the forges of men. Elven coins are considered collector's items when found and can receive many times their face value.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission Darius West . Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Average Coins. All coins in Hârn are based on 60 part composition formulae as 60 is a highly divisible number. The composition of most reliable silver pennies in Hârn is 40 parts silver to 15 parts tin to 5 parts nickel, the last two in place to make coins more durable. The farthings of Hârn are copper coins crudely the same size as pennies and worth a quarter of a penny. Farthings, being copper coins, are not minted on Hârn. Gold coins, known generally as pounds or crowns, are prone to wear and a lot of debasement. Typical gold coins will contain 30 parts gold to 15 parts lead, 5 parts tin, 5 parts zinc, and 5 parts copper The Royal Mints Central to the management of any realm in Hârn is the Royal Mint. Among the monarchies of Hârn the responsibility for the mint falls to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who in turn delegates the daily responsibility to the Warden or Governor of the Mint. As the confidence of the Mangai is important in the Kingdoms of Hârn, employment in the Royal Mints is mainly found through guild sinecures held by senior Guildsmen as a reward for services rendered, and the actual work is done by journeymen and apprentices subcontracted by these somewhat exploitative seniors. The Guilds pay close attention to each fresh minting of a run of coins for purity. A King who wants to debase his currency without it becoming common knowledge must do so very surreptitiously through bribery and hidden counterfeiting operations. The Guilds that hold the important positions (often referred to as sinecures) in the Royal Mints are the Guild of Arcane Lore who manage the Alchemical requirements of tests of purity; the Metalsmiths' Guild who manage the smelting, melting and coining; the Jewelers' Guild who manage the production of the dies for each fresh run so they produce fine quality coin that bears a good likeness to the monarch; and the Lexigraphers' Guild who are responsible for making, keeping, and maintaining the records of the activities and counts of the mint. While the titles may change, in essence the sinecures carry in most sovereign territories. Given here are titles more commensurate with the eccentricities of Feudal administra-

2 tive titles than the bland "Governor of the Royal Mint" found in the various Hârn region modules. This carries over all the various sinecures. Notice that the Kingdom of Evael has no representation. This is because that Kingdom has not operated a Royal Mint since BT685 and the completion of the withdrawal to the Shava Forest. Nation Azadmere Chybisa Kaldor Kanday Melderyn Orbaal Rethem Tharda

Title for Head of the Mint Governor of the Royal Mint Warden of the Royal Mint Warden of the Royal Mint Guardian of the Royal Mint Governor of the Royal Mint Chief Coiner Protector of the Royal Furnaces Governor of the Thardan Republican Mint

"Manrasusha's Tithe" or "Chimney Tax" In times past there was a belief held regarding the dishonesty of Mint workers such that they were often whipped or ruthlessly searched for stolen coins that had gone missing. Over the course of time the consistency of the amount of the theft caused alchemists to investigate the process of manufacture more closely, and it was gradually discovered that 3 coins in 100 were lost in vapor from the melted metal. This came to be known as Manrasusha's Tithe after the deity of primal fire who was seldom made offerings. In those lands who feared to pronounce the name of dread Manrasusha preferred to call it Chimney tax. It remains a nuisance to every monarch who wants to re-coin metal with his own face, but a guarantee that coins of good years tend to remain in circulation. The Guild of Arcane Lore (Alchemists) Known by various titles, Mints require the service of one or more Alchemists who perform purity checks on all runs of coins called an “assay”. The sinecure for the Guild of Arcane Lore is generally called the Guardian of the Pyx, whose role it is to assay each run of coins newly minted, and whose reputation rests on the outcome, as this is done before a select council of nobles and guild masters, and sometimes even the Monarch.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission of Darius West. Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact.

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Nation Azadmere Chybisa Kaldor Kanday Melderyn Orbaal Rethem Tharda

Guild of Arcane Lore Sinecure Title Assayist Royal Master Assayist Guardian of the Pyx Warden of the Pyx Royal Assayist Vouchsafer of Coin Judge of the Crucible The Assay General

The Guild of Jewellers The Guild of Jewellers are responsible specifically for the process of producing the dies for casting the coins. These routinely bear the likeness of the monarch, their title, and the year on one side and either the royal coat of arms, a religious symbol, or some other emblem of the land on the other side. The two dies are called respectively the hammer die and the anvil die and the skill of their manufacture reflects on the cultivation of the land. Each die is expected to be struck 40,000 times before being used up, and as roughly 20,000 coins are minted per 12 hour day per die, that means a replacement is required every 2 days. In practice the sinecure is routinely abused by the Jewellers guild who hire out the work to a journeyman of the Metalworker's Guild while pocketing the excess income. The position of die-maker is generally known as the Master of the Face. The Master of the Face is also responsible for the casting of dies for royal medallions and seals as required. Nation Azadmere Chybisa Kaldor Kanday Melderyn Orbaal Rethem Tharda

Guild of Jewellers' Sinecure Title Engraver Royal Master of the Face Master of the Face Master of the Face Royal Engraver Chief Engraver Masquer Royal Engraver General

The Guild of Metalsmiths The Guild of Metalsmiths do most of the actual work in the process of minting coins. In practice they make the dies, and are the ones employed in the process of heating the metal and striking each coin. They are normally painfully aware of the purity of the metal. The sinecure of leadership is

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generally known as the Master of the Strike for the Guild of Metalsmiths, and is normally a serious position of high responsibility and though the work is shared among apprentices and journeymen, the Master of the Strike remains the paymaster and the most hands-on of the sinecures Nation Azadmere Chybisa Kaldor Kanday Melderyn Orbaal Rethem Tharda

Guild of Metalsmiths' Sinecure Title Master of the Strike Master of Strike Master of the Strike Master of Dies Royal Die Master Chief Striker Master of the Crucible Coiner General

The Guild of Lexigraphers It has fallen to the Lexigraphers to become the scribes of the Mint due to the importance of accurate and unimpeachable records of the workings of the Royal Mint. The Lexigraphers have been required to provide ledgers of parchment of unusual gauge, texture, and quality, as well as inks that cannot be duplicated. They are required to comment on all parts of the process of any minting, including the names and lodgings of every employee of the mint involved, the weighed quantity and imputed quality of the metal used, the number of coins struck in the day, who took a break from the minting room and roughly when, and any anomalies. The ledgers are not correctible with a knife like usual parchment, for though they look like vellum and feel like vellum, by a secret process of the Guild of Lexigraphers, they are in fact a form of paper made from cotton and starch, and actually bearing the further secret addition of a hidden water mark. The Lexigraphers have also become the scribes and archivists of the Mint as a result. The sinecure is generally known as the Guardian of the Count, and is normally carried out diligently by the appointee and his staff. The Guardian of the Count is often groomed as the next Warden of the Mint.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission Darius West . Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Nation Azadmere Chybisa Kaldor Kanday Melderyn Orbaal Rethem Tharda

Guild of Lexigraphers' Sinecure Title Guardian of the Count Warden of the Run Guardian of the Count Guardian of the Run Warden of Mint Records (no such position) Hook of the Mint Chief Scribe of the Mint

Counterfeiting One of the less publicized duties of the Warden of the Royal Mint is that they are responsible for the capture and bringing to trial of any counterfeiters in the Kingdom, though as the job is a Royal Appointment, they may not bring to trial any member of the Royal Family so engaged. There are 4 preferred methods for counterfeiting: False Impressing: This is the process of striking coins using unofficial dies, generally made from impressions of existing coins. Often this is done to hide and circulate precious metals obtained illegally, and the metal content is normally higher than Royal Minting. While a crime, if the metal purity is high this is merely considered a crime against Guild privilege carrying a fine, but normally such charges are supported by evidence of other crimes of counterfeiting, which is typical. There is an interesting issue legally as to whether the impressing of foreign coins is criminal, but given the potential diplomatic fallout, the answer is normally "yes". Washing: This is the process of using coins struck of non-precious metal such as lead and covering them in a coating of silver or gold via alchemy. This can be detected by biting the surface of a coin to reveal the layer beneath if there is one. Washed coins are often hidden at the bottom of large payment chests and invariably to mint such coins is a high crime carrying the death penalty. Clipping: This involves the shaving or clipping of the edges of the coins of the realm creating a serrated edge. The metal so recovered is then minted into fresh coins. While in fact less pernicious than

4 washing, clipping carries a similar death sentence and is one of the primary means by which counterfeiting occurs. Debasing: This involves melting down the coins of the realm and introducing increased quantities of nonprecious metals when re-minting. This allows the same quantity of the precious metal to mint far more coins. Unsurprisingly this crime too carries the death penalty, unless it is being performed by the crown. Defacing This is the act of damaging currency of the realm. Destroying coins of the realm is a crime within that territory, but not outside that territory, unless there is an agreement in place. If a mercantyler has foreign coins and seeks to melt them down for some reason, there are few who would stop him, but he may not melt the coin of the realm. An exception was once made in 674 for the Kaldoran knight Sir Huthric of Padel who was forced to melt coins of the realm for the purpose of slaying an Ilviran creature immune to iron and steel. Sir Huthric of Padel also confessed his crime to the King, beseeching royal mercy which was duly and gladly granted. It is said that Sir Huthric owed his life to the purity of Kaldoran coin. The Problem with Farthings Hârn has a problem with the farthing as a coin. There are no farthings, or any other copper or bronze coin minted on the entire island, and most farthings seem to trickle in through Melderyn's trade with Lythia. This is a problem as farthings are immensely popular with the lower classes who need to mind every penny. On the other hand, the nobles, the clergy and the Mangai of every Hârnic nation know that there is virtually no way to produce farthings for less than about 1d each. The dwarves could probably solve the problem, but they haven't bothered to. As a result, the mercantylers tend to bring at least 1 chest full of farthings home with them with every trip to Lythia, so that when their brothers in the Mangai come looking for change, that farthings can be provided. It is estimated that there are slightly fewer than 1

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission of Darius West. Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact.

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES million farthings in Hârn, which makes them rarer than pennies, and that is a strange state of affairs that needs to be corrected, but nobody is putting up their hand to do so. Farthing Clipper: A very miserly and anti-social person.

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trading coins of a low value for coins of higher purity plus the interest. Chafin's Honor A term used to disparage the debased coins of Rethem.

Prosecuting Counterfeiters It falls to the Warden of the Mint to insure the purity of the coins of the realm, and to this effect it is not unknown for him to hire investigating agents to discover counterfeiting operations. When the agents have done their job the Warden of the Mint then gathers a detachment of Mint Guardsmen and swoops on the counterfeiters. Trials are typically swift and justice is normally savage, with counterfeiters often being hung, drawn and quartered, or having a hand cut off and nailed to their door or some similar punishment. Usury The practice of usury is the purview of the Mercantylers' Guild, lending them a subtle influence on the affairs of any land. There can be no doubt that the Mercantylers' are the princes of the Mangai as a result of their ability to hold others in debt through usury, combined with their easy access to legitimate mercenaries in the form of caravan guards, the favor of the monarchy and nobles who are the main customers for their foreign goods, and the potential to earn great fortunes through maintaining trade networks. All of the guilds have an interest in the standards of currency but none more-so than the Mercantylers Guild, who are also the main money changers of Hârn. It is within the interests of the Mercantylers' Guild to know the relative purities of coins of all realms and all years to get a sense of the value of the currency they are trading in. Now in various places the Mangai may have moved to clip the wings of the Mercantylers a little, insisting that excessive interest on loans, whether to Mangai members, or even including Nobles and the unguilded is crippling business. This the mercantylers can circumvent by setting up Bills of Debt that specify repayment in coin of a certain realm and even a certain year, potentially

Numismatics (Lore) This is the skill of knowing the details of coins and medallions produced by Royal Mints. It is of particular relevance when judging the respective value of coins by their purity based on their year of manufacture for the purpose of exchange. Attributes Int Int Eye

Sunsign Tar +3, Tai/Sko/Fen +1

OML SB x3

Specialties Realms, Medallions, Periods, Purities

ML 70+ Numismatist can detect the 5 forms of counterfeiting at a glance and reduces the effects of any MF by 1d6% ML 90+ Can assess purity with reasonable certainty by sight and weight. Reduce the uncertainty of any MS by 1d6% CS: Full information gained with a sense of certainty. MS: Counterfeits detected if present. Value of coins known to within 1d6-1d6% (plus or minus) MF: Counterfeits not detected if present. Value mis-estimated by 3d6-3d6%. (plus or minus) CF: Coins taken at face value as being of average quality with a sense of certainty.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission Darius West . Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Using Numismatics Characters will often encounter coins within the game, but those with numismatics as a skill may see each pot of coin as a potential for a little extra profit. While primarily used for assessing the value of coins, Numismatics also applies to most medallions and chains of office. As the Royal Mints are generally commissioned with presenting the various Guilds with their Mangai chains of office, a good numismatist should be able to tell at a glance what Kingdom and what Guild any chain of office belongs to. It is customary practice that any Guildman serving the Mangai for 20 years is entitled to keep the badge of the chain of office (though not the entire chain, as the links have former position-holders' names on them) for his Guild as a recognition of his service. Given that the character devotes an hour or so to count, sort and assess the coin, the GM should make a roll on the following table to determine what the average result for a given quantity of recently acquired coins is composed of. Note that it is often possible when dealing with members of the Guild of Mercantylers to specify a particular nationality and year of coin, but unless one is a member of the Guild, the Mercantylers are under no specific obligation to meet the request, and may even assert Guild privilege and question the origin of your numismatic knowledge pursuant to a litigation of breach of Guild privilege.

6 Roll d100 01-05 06-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 86-90 91-95 96-00

Result Coins of ordinary quality except for 1d10 which are rare and worth d10+1 x their face value to a collector Coins seem to be of the same year and high quality, worth +25%. There are high quality coins present worth +3d10% There are high quality coins present worth +2d10% There are high quality coins present worth +1d10% There are high quality coins present worth +1d6% Coins are of average quality but a number of farthings are present (which everyone likes to see) Coins are of average quality Coins are of average quality Coins are of average quality Coins are of average quality Foreign coins are present. -1d6% of value if noticed Many foreign coins are present. -1d10% of face value if noticed All foreign coins. -3d10% of value if noticed. Many debased coins present -10% Mostly debased coins present -20% All debased coins -30% Coins of average value except for 1 very rare coin worth 3d10 times its face value to a collector. Chafin's Honor. Rethemi coins worth perhaps 20% of face value except in Rethem. Coins are all counterfeit. It is illegal to pass them and they should be reported. They are most likely "washed" lead.

As far as rare coins go, think of them as perhaps coins or medallions from distant places that have been traded away by accident over perhaps thousands of miles and hundreds of years. Here are a few ideas for rare coins: Aelgar 710 The Attempt (2d) The first and only striking of Orbaalese coins, this mint run of comparatively high purity (54 parts silver) coins is uncommon but turns up from time to time. Hepekio Holed Penny (3d) Coming from an unknown civilization within what is now the Hepekarian Confederacy, these © 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission of Darius West. Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact.

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES old coins with a hole and an unknown script retain their mystery. Hepekio holed pennies are somewhat plentiful in the Confederacy, but Hârn is a long way away from there. Andasin I TR590 First Minting (4d) The first run of Kandayan coins was not large and were often melted down and re-cast by Kanday's enemies leaving few in circulation Marego TR694 Melted Run (5d) A coin from Trierzon. It is believed that only a few hundred coins went into circulation before the King recalled and re-melted them all. Horahnam TR 569 First Minting (6d) A coin from the first mint run of the Theocracy of Tekhos bearing the face of Morgath and Horahnam on opposite sides and a prayer to Bukrai. A small run from a short lived mint. Horahnam TR 579 Cursed Coins (7d) Struck to commemorate the 10th year of the Theocracy of Tekhos, this coin was of unusually high purity and bore Sigils and Symbols thanking and praising Morgath. These coins are considered harbingers of bad luck by some and are now reasonably rare. The proverbial "bad penny". Shiran Republic TR 635 Commemoration (8d) This limited run was circulated to commemorate the founding of the Shiran Republic. It bears the Shiran Crest surrounded by a laurel wreath and ribbons and the motto "Commemorating 10 years of Unity and Freedom". A fire at the mint curtailed the completion of this coin run. Obras BT655 Failed Run (9d) The son of Arlun the Barbarian didn't have enough money to complete this short run of debased coins, and sold the metal instead. The run of perhaps 300 coins is now rare indeed. Balsha TR562 Dark Victory (10d) Struck by the Balshan Jihad to commemorate the martyrdom of their prophet and the capture of Merethos. Most of these coins have since been melted down by Rethemi kings AND Larani worshipers (albeit for different reasons).

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Raelan IV TR 365 Mid Run (11d) This run of Corani Empire coins was cut short by the death of the "Emperor". Kaneumic Empire Talli (12d) A strange coin featuring a scalloped edge and featuring stylized birds and beasts that no-one in Western Lythia can identify. A popular and exotic coin amongst collectors who consider no collection complete without one. Khanate Blade Coins (13d) Rumours persist of a semi-civilized people who have emerged to rule part of Far Eastern Lythia. They are or were advanced enough to produce these eccentric coins in the form of small silver skinning knives yet struck with the name and date and likeness of an unknown ruler called a Khan. Shoju Empire Oumon (14d) A coin from a reclusive land across the continent of Lythia and then some. These oblong silver coins with small square holes and an unknown character set have an exotic cache, while being totally mundane in their land of origin. Naxalath III TR 514 Imperial Marriage (15d) A coin struck to commemorate the marriage of Emperor Naxalath III of theAzeryan Empire to the Byrani Princess Sanial Sa-Torla. The marriage never went ahead and only a few hundred coins were ever circulated. Molnasian Scallop Coin (16d) Struck in the likeness of a scallop's flat plate shell, yet bearing script and various symbols of unknown authority, these coins often show up clipped to remove the projections rendering them worth 4d to interested collectors. The full price is for an unclipped scallop coin. Larandar TR 311 Lost Monarch (17d) Larandar was a usurper of the Byrani Empire who ruled for 65 days before being defeated in battle. Most of the coins he minted were melted down by his successor.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission Darius West . Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES Pachean Empire Tusked Mask (18d) A heavily stylized coin struck in good silver bears the likeness of a round tusked face contorted in demonic rage. The reverse side carries an unknown columnar script derived perhaps from the Molken tongue. Six Legged Coin (19d) Periodically a simple silver coin carrying a double triskelion of bent human legs apparently running and bearing no other markings appear. Their origin is entirely mysterious Aranath (Any) (20d) Any coin from the period when elves still ruled Hârn and operated a Royal Mint is now a valued curiosity to numismatic collectors for their purity and comparative rarity. Lothrim TR 111 Silver of Kiraz (21d) Lothrim was seldom overly concerned with the finer points of the administration of his lands but one of his Peleahn disciples saw fit with his master's permission to see to the minting of fresh coins bearing Lothrim's likeness from the Silver taken in the Carnage of Kiraz. Most of these coins were melted down by Lothrim's enemies but occasionally show up in Gargun treasure piles. Skull and Dagger (22d) Struck with the image of a skull with a wavy dagger between its teeth and a prayer to Naveh around the rim. Rumour has it that these coins are ritually struck in lots of 99 whenever a Navehan Chapter is called upon to assassinate a reigning monarch. They are also rumoured to be used as identifiers of cult membership and often to cover the eyes and mouth of entombed Naveh worshipers. The true purpose of these coins is not known outsiders but they show up now and again. Chafin II TR670 Accidental Purity (23d) It is said that Chafin II accidentally ordered the striking of an undebased coin bearing his likeness at the start of his reign. It is said that the coin was 51 parts pure silver and uncharacteristically bright for a Rethemi coin. Chafin II realized his mistake

8 but some 100 or so of these coins had already entered circulation of which perhaps 45 survive. Haldan I TR 607 Haldan's Mite (24d) After the Azadmere caravan was delayed for months in 607 King Haldan I ordered the Kaldor Royal Mint to strike half sized pennies to keep them busy. When the caravan arrived the line was discontinued and most coins restruck at full size, leaving some 38 in circulation to the Kaldor Mint's embarrassment. Pithmik II TR 411 Atregi Victory (25d) Ordered struck to commemorate his forthcoming victory over the Atregi tribe, this coin of the Byrani Empire proved to be premature as Pithmik II was famously tortured and eaten by the victorious Atregi Chieftain Ublug-Gon. Some of 35 of these coins were stolen by an eunuch before the run was re-melted. The death of Pithmik II initiated a chaotic inter-regnum with the Atregi a continuous threat for the next thirty years. Naxalath II TR 492 Green Ship Run (26d) Struck in the city of Meokolis in 492 and bearing that city's name as their place of minting, the Green Ship supposed to carry these coins to the Azeryan Capital never arrived. There were no survivors but bodies carrying a few of these coins washed up on the coast of Karejia weeks later. There are about 28 of these coins in existence. Merodyne's Seven (27d) A series of Karejian silver pennies all apparently struck in the reign of Kolomontos II BT 343. Close inspection (CS) indicates that these coins are silver washed, but closer inspection indicates that they are silver washed gold. These coins are said to be sacred to Halea and a gift to her first priestess. Rumour has it that these coins provide 7 years good luck but must be traded away before the 7th year ends or death will follow within the following year. Numismatists insist these coins are mythical but there are a number of false Merodyne's Sevens floating about, and prices are given for those.

© 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission of Darius West. Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact.

HÂRNIC CURRENCIES The Eye of Ilvir (28d) How these coins came to be is a mystery. They bear the likeness of a stylized eye on one side and a claw on the other. They also carry prayers to Ilvir in Runic on the rim. It is said that these coins may be shown or given to creatures of Ilvir to prevent their aggression, even towards nonworshipers. Multiple accounts of this phenomena have served to drive up the price of these already rare coins. The Pig Face (29d) Easily the rarest coin on Hârn, bearing the crude likeness of a Gargun face on one side and jumbled quasi-elven script on the other, the Pig Face is the only known example of Gargun ever minting coins. To add to the mystery, the coins are of unusual purity indicating that they may have been struck from coins from Azadmere or an old Elven coin cache. There are perhaps 5 known to exist in private collections. Aranath BT685 Last Minting (30d) An elven coin dating to the last year that the elven kingdom ran a mint. Though not the rarest coin in absolute terms, it is heavily sought after due to its purity of silver, the method of creation of which remains mysterious and sought after. It is said that King Aranath ordered the coins to be made of pure starlight silver to remind all future generations of humans what they had lost by extinguishing the elven Kingdom of Hârn.

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virtually all Mercantylers' Guild Halls as reference materials for those who have a hunger to understand the history and value of the various coins used throughout the known world over the last few centuries. Mercantylers Guild Halls have been known to occasionally have fresh copies made and even to sell off their old copies to interested parties. An original Trierzi copy might sell for as little as 2500 pennies, and a Hârnic copy would go for perhaps half that amount. Owning such a resource adds +10% to skill if referenced or +25% to the owner's Numismatics skill if the owner has had the months necessary to read the work at least once. Few mercantylers have managed to find the time to read the entire work leading to the joke that they too have "failed at the gate of Trabant". This work is widely regarded as the seminal text on numismatics in the known world. It should be noted that coin collecting is not often developed to the point of obsession in any land, and all coins regardless of how rare retain a face value. This is why even the rarest coins are generally available for only 30 pennies if they can be found. Lythians tend to be pragmatic rather than sentimental about their coins, even the collectors. Skill/Lore Heraldry Numismatics History

Original Trierzi Lakise ML 10-30 ML 10-70 ML 10-30

Hârnic Copy ML 20-40 ML 10-50 ML 10-30

Markeld's Numismatic Record Put together in the year 700 by Markeld Mirael, younger brother of the Duke of Trabant in Trierzon and later renowned Deronti of SaveKnor, this remarkable book includes a number of illustrations lovingly detailing the variances in the many coins in circulation. With uncanny attention to detail Markeld has catalogued hundreds of years worth of coins from the many mints of Lythia and even beyond. The Trierzi books normally come in 6 thickly bound volumes in embossed leather carrying the crest of the Duke of Trabant and the title in gold. The Hârnic copies tend to be of much poorer quality. Both have 6 volumes of 300 pages each and are roughly 12 inches by 9 inches. These volumes have become popular in © 2003, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games, Inc. (http://www.columbiagames.com/) © 2014 Darius West.

HârnWorld

This work, created by Darius West is a derivative work of copyrighted material published by Columbia Games Inc. and released for free distribution and personal use by Darius West and without permission or endorsement by N. Robin Crossby or Columbia Games, Inc. No modification of said work may be made without permission Darius West . Hârn, HârnWorld, and HârnMaster are Trademarks of Columbia Games Inc. Use of these or other trademarks are not intended as a challenge to the status of said trademarks. All distributions must keep this copyright and trademark notice intact