One of the divisive aspects of Dragonlance is its lack of a currency norm. Let’s take a closer look at the currency of Krynn during the War of the Lance. Buy More Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/204205/more-leaves-from-the-inn-of-the-last-home-2e?affiliate_id=50797
Transcript
Cold Open
Who knew currency was going to be such a divisive issue?
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to talk about currency during the War of the Lance Era. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing DL1 Dragons of Despair and More Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
I think most people who play Dungeons & Dragons in the Dragonlance Campaign Setting never really consider the currency exchange rates for different nations or regions. And the reality is, they can be significant! Point in fact, ever since the Cataclysm, gold has significantly dropped in value, and in Abanasinia it is completely worthless. So if you are playing Dragonlance for the first time, you may be expecting the standard currency as two-hundred copper pieces being the equivalent of twenty silver pieces, which is the equivalent of two electrum pieces, which equals one gold piece, which itself is one-fifth of a platinum piece. The size and weight of each coin is relatively equal to each other coin, regardless of type. But Dragonlance is anything but normal in the Dungeons and Dragons ecosphere.
The act of minting coins is a relatively new concept to Dragonlance, and it is not the preferred method of exchange of goods globally, outside the more civilized regions of Krynn. Once coins did begin to be minted it wasn’t even for the exchange of goods, but rather the simple transporting of metals. The dwarven nations would stamp their rounds for simple tracking of the site of the forging and the year. These rounds would ultimately be melted down to make tools, machines or armaments. For the exchange of goods, most humans would barter furs, wood, polished stones, bones, or shells and clay tokens. They would eventually see the metal rounds as a more practical and durable method. It wouldn’t be until the glory of Istar that the minting of coins would be normalized. The Kingpriests’ likeness and that of the gods’ were stamped on the surface of their currency. Ironically it was about this time that dwarves would adopt the clay marker representing metal coins.
In Xak Tsaroth, a major location for commerce and trade on Abanasinia, the clay culli was the accepted currency, which eliminated the need to carry heavy metals. This practice spread far and wide allowing nations to hoard precious metals, with their citizens using tokens to represent the nation or city-state’s combined wealth. And as with all tales in Dragonlance we must continue with the phrase, then the Cataclysm struck. Among a whole host of other atrocities, with the Cataclysm came the total destruction of the world’s economy. With the value of clay and metal tokens being entirely dependent on the nation which held them, and those nations being wholly absent or decimated, what value was any of it?
In the years after the Cataclysm the surest and most widely used metals became the standard: bronze, iron, and dwarven steel. The steel could be easily transported then melted down and reworked into necessary equipment to eke out a living. And thus steel became the standard of currency on Krynn. When the seeker religion gained power, they began minting the Steel Emas. But regionally across Ansalon, different sentiments toward the different metals drove varying exchange rates for each, so there is no such thing as a global standard of currency. Within each of the following governments and their territory, currency and the standard value of one steel piece varies as follows: In the Seeker Lands .75, The Dragon Empire .90, The Dwarven Lands from .90-1.10, The Empire of Ergoth 1, The Minotaur Isles 1.25, The Knight lands 1, Lemish .80 and Silvanesti 1. So trading Solamnic coins in Lemish would make you lose 20% of their value. Equally taking Seeker coins to the Minotaur Isles would see a profit. Most other more primitive regions prefer to barter or trade, borrowing coins from other nations.
Knowing which nation’s currency you carry is an integral part of trade in Dragonlance. Exchange rates vary simply because each nation has had its own unique economy based on a particular product or industry that it is known for. Not to mention the military might and political influence each nation wields influences it as well. Let’s examine how each nation’s steel stacks up to the international standard of steel, so we can better understand currency as you travel through Ansalon. All of these nation’s individual value for steel is the basis of all other metals in trade, so understanding the difference will help adventurers and travelers. Point in fact, outside gold, steel, and iron, many nations value coal, tin, nickel, copper, brass, bronze, silver, electrum, platinum, adamantine, ivory, cowrie shells, conch shells, hacksilver, jade, agate and garnets!
For the following human-governed nations and empires, the coinage is primarily used in the cities with farmers and others who accept the coins in addition to barter. Ergoth still treats pre-cataclysm coinage as valid currency. Saifhum, whose residents tend toward piracy accept many Blood Sea Isles neighboring currency as their own. Abanasinia only recognised the Seeker currency. The Empire of Ergoth: 1 steel disk = 2 platinum platters = 5 gold gilts = 5 iron rounds = 10 electrum ambers = 20 brassies = 25 silvers = 50 hacksilvers = 100 coppers = 400 tinnys. The Dragon Empire: 1 steel weight = ⅕ platinum weight = ½ iron weight = 2 bronze weight = 10 gold weight = 20 silver weight = 100 copper weight. The Knight Lands of Sancrist, Solamnia, and Eastwatch: 1 steel Sword or 1 silver Monarch = 2 platinum Florins = 5 iron Dirks = 10 bronze donjons or 10 silver Castles = 20 gold kronin = 25 electrum marks = 50 silver tharns/shields = 100 copper commons = 400 nickel quinces. Lemish: 1 steel brand = 1/50 adamantine guard = ½ platinum florn = 2 iron stamps = 5 bronze dollars = 10 gold krones = 20 electrum marks = 25 silver stars = 50 copper pense = 200 tin commons. Saifhum: 1 steel disk = 5 iron rounds = 10 bronze dolons = 20 silvers = 100 coppers. And the Seeker Lands: 1 steel emas = ½ platinum moon = 2 iron hammers = 5 bronze plates = 10 copper helms = 50 silver stars.
The three dwarven nations acknowledge the standard currency, but the Aghar do not operate the same with commerce or barter. Kaolyn: 1 steel anvil = 1/10 adamantine forge = ⅕ garnet chip = 5 iron ingots = 15 gold crowns = 20 silver bucklers = 50 bronze gauntlets = 100 copper slugs = 200 nickel rivets. Thorbardin: 1 steel anvil = 1/20 adamantine forge = ⅕ agate chip = 2 iron ingots = 5 bronze gauntlets = 10 copper slugs = 20 nickel rivets = 25 gold crowns = 50 silver bucklers = 100 coal pails. Zhakar: 1 steel bar = 1/10 jade chip = 2 iron bars = 10 bronze bars = 25 brass bars = 50 copper slugs = 50 silver slugs = 100 tin slugs = 200 coal rations. The Elven nations are wholly represented by Silvanesti who rarely has any trade with the outside world. 1 steel crest = 1/10 ivory tooth = ⅕ platinum moon = 5 iron rings = 10 gold crowns = 20 electrum solars = 50 silver stars = 100 brass seals = 200 copper shells. The minotaur isles were unified after the War. Mithas and Kothas: 1 steel sabre = 2 iron wards = 10 bronze shields = 20 gold crowns = 50 electrum lances = 100 brass darts = 200 copper arrows.
As you can see, global events have a dramatic shift in what the accepted currency is in any given part of Krynn, so being aware of the region your adventure takes you is just as important as being properly equipped for the journey. History has shown us that today’s common denomination will be tomorrow’s collector’s item.
Outro
And that is all the time I have to talk about currency during the War of the Lance. What do you think of swapping out war time materials for currency? Did you know that is why Pax Tharkas and mining was so integral to the Dragonarmy? And finally, do you use steel in your War of the Lance campaigns for currency? Leave a comment below.
I would like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time, remember:
The top coin of a fallen despot is less precious to the hound than a gleaming houndstooth.
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