So World of Thedas 2 comes out and more Currency Lore! Yay! Also I added on a lot to my old post and so I’m going to write/sort that out too.

Disclaimer: All of this is completely canonical knowledge. Nothing headcanoned, there are sources for it and I’ve gathered from every source that I could. This includes: The World of Thedas Vol.1&2, Dragon AGE (the tabletop RPG), Dragon Age Origins & Dragon Age 2 Game Guides, and a forum discussion with Mary Kirby & David Gaider (Information regarding Qunari economy). Nothing is headcanon and nothing is taken from an unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia).

Most of Thedas uses the same currency system, run by the Dwarven Merchants Guild. The Dwarves were the first to set and use the present currency standard; the Dwarven Merchants Guild refusing to accept any other currency, if it did not meet their specifications, and forcing many nations to convert to the new standard immediately.

Every nation and race within Thedas uses the same metals/basis for their currency, the standard fare being Gold, Silver, and Copper. Most of these come in the form of coins and their names and appearances vary country to country. Larger, more expensive transactions may be used in the form of bars (solid bricks) or strands (stacked groups), these seen used more between guild contracts or governments/nations than in daily commerce.  For example: Hawke would pay gold pieces to buy new armor, while Varric would buy a new estate or make an investment in bars and strands.

1 Gold piece is equal to 100 Silvers which is equal to 10,000 coppers.

Or

1 Gold = 100 Silvers
1 Silver = 100 Coppers

However, prices do inflate depending on location. 5 Gold pieces/Sovereigns in Ferelden will buy you a meal (probably for 2 if you know where to look) and an okay cowl will run you maybe 10 gold pieces/Sovereigns, where as in Orlais a single ring will run you around almost 60 gold pieces at the least and a decent meal is probably around 50 gold pieces per a person.

The Imperial Highway

While the Imperial Highway (the trade route throughout Thedas) does not have it’s own currency, it does have it’s own practice related to currency. Usually merchants and travelers will carry Traveler’s Bends, Gold coins that are beaten curved so they can be hidden beneath the tongue. The practice is done to protect small amounts of coin (for emergency or bribes) from bandits patrolling the roads; however it is very easy to swallow or choke on the coin rolling around in one’s mouth. It is also a common case for Hunter Fell currency (containing lead) to cause a condition called “Miser’s Madness”, which is lead poisoning.

Ferelden

In Ferelden, Gold pieces are referred to as Sovereigns, Silvers are Silvers, and Coppers are called Bits or simply Coppers.

Orlais

In Orlais, “Gold” pieces are referred to as Royals; however due to different and more expensive lifestyles of Orlais, Royals are equal to 20 Sovereigns/General Gold pieces. Silver pieces are referred to as Crowns and Copper pieces are Bits (like Fereldans) or Pennies. 

There are also the traditional Caprice coins of Orlais. They are made of very little gold and more often use low grade materials, as Caprices are made to be disposable. Most Caprices are decorated with a single family’s heraldry or a specific event. They are not used in normal economic exchanges, but rather in a party game at high-class, Orlesian, social gatherings. Nobles hand Caprices back and forth during parties, rewarding cleverness and grace. The Caprices are then thrown into a fountain at the end of the party or a fireplace in a more rural setting, for well wishing. Reusing a Caprice is thought to be both bad luck and a great embarrassment.

• Serault

Serault has the same base currency as the rest of Orlais, but they do have a special coin. This coin is known as the Andraste’s Tear, a nonmetal coin that has the same equivalence as 5 Royals (or 100 Gold Pieces). Andraste’s Tears were made in a very small, limited quantity; created by pressing Serault glass together, trapping “the still of the air as they watched Our Lady breathe her last” (later discovered by a coin collector to be a waft of alcohol) between the slates of glass, and then a signet is pressed into the glass like wax.

Nevarra

Nevarra uses a coin referred to the King’s Gulder, it is implied this is their Gold coin as it is seen equivalent to the Fereldan Sovereign and Orlesian Royal. Another name for the King’s Gulders are Dragons. The term is both due to Nevarra’s culture association with dragons, and the naming of their Dwarven Guild/Enclave.

Anderfels

The Anderfels has a coin named the Double Griffon, it is implied to be their Gold piece as it is compared to the Fereldan Sovereign, Orlesian Royal, and Nevarran King’s Gulder.

Antiva

Antivan Andris are Antiva’s “Gold” pieces worth the same as an Orlesian Royal (20 typical Gold pieces), they are actually struck with the faces of leaders operating major groups within the Antivan limits rather than faces of their Royalty. For example one Andris appeared to be struck with a (familiar) Pirate Queen’s visage, one who operates within the Antivan seas.

Also 5,000 Andris are considered to be one Bastard, which is an offer used as an insult in business negotiations.

Tevinter

Tevinter uses a coin similar to Orlesian Caprices for their own gatherings, Imperial Tesseraes are tokens and/or tiles that are used as invitations and passes into certain events. The events can range from political meetings (like Magister congregations) to celebrations (name day parties) to competitive gathering or betting at said gathering (sport contests like Jousting) to private performance (of a famous bard/minstrel or celebrated play troupe). Coins are usually specially made for each event, depicting the event, a favorite athlete, an animal, or the subject/guest of the event. Tokens for a private performance are considered the rarest Tesserae to acquire and are highly sought by collectors. However Tesseraes lose value the minute the event or gathering has ended, since there is little interest in tokens of a rival’s family, success, and/or vanity.

Par Vollen, Seheron, Parts of Rivain (Qunari)

Qunari follow a completely different economic system that the rest of Thedas, as they do not have currency or a trade system. Rather Qunari run on a communist system. They do not own property; they do not trade, buy, or sell things amongst one another. Any example given by Mary Kirby:

“Merchants” in qunari cities have the job of making sure goods are distributed appropriately.

Because Qunari do not buy goods, the goods instead provided to everyone fairly and evenly. The “merchants” deliver the essentials to live, to everyone equally and the goods they need to perform their role/jobs (bakers get their flour for the day, farmers their seeds for the season, etc.)

Qunari do follow Thedosian currency out of curiosity, trading and borrowing with the rest of Thedas to interact with and explore the activities, behavior, and goods/products that come from the other nations. However, they do not actively participate nor adopt Thedosian economic standards among their own communities. It is unknown whether the currency they use to participate in Thedosian economy has special names like the rest of Thedas and are rather just Golds, Silvers, and Coppers.

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    I was totally wondering this the other day. ‘Cause this is what I think about…

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    Bits of DA lore to keep in mind while writing. :)

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