Depiction of a copper septim, bearing the likeness of Tiber I Septim on the front and an imperial dragon sigil on the back; ©Bethesda Softworks
Coins and money are a manner of currency used mostly by merchants, owners of establishments, and noble classes, while commoners might use either coins or barter.
Thus far, no society on Nirn has been described as using paper currency (though the currency of every region hasn't been described in detail). Most societies use currency in the form of coins made from precious metals such as gold, silver, or copper (with a few notable exceptions, such as the iron coins used in Akavir). Contracts written on parchment or paper are also accepted, though these are not "currency" as such.
Tamriel[]
Third Empire[]
Prior to the Tiber Wars, each of the kingdoms of Tamriel had their own coinage minted by their respective kings. The coins from the Summerset Archipelago were golden. They were known as 'gryphons', and featured the gryphon-shaped sigil of House Arana on one side and the head of a king on the other. These golden coins were roughly half the value of a golden drakes.
The current currency was established shortly after the unification of Tamriel following the Tiber Wars and was used through the whole Septim rule and continued after the Oblivion Crisis. In order from high to low value, respectively, these are golden drakes (also called 'drakes'), silver Xs, copper septims, pennies, and half-pennies. Golden drakes are more frequently used by rich merchants and noble lords and ladies. Commonfolk, who do not have such riches, tend to exchange copper and silver coins, or turn to trade. The minting of the coins, exchange rates, and like matters are overseen by the Imperial Treasurer of the Empire.
The emperor's coinage is one of the most visible manifestations of royal authority. Golden drakes bear the face of the emperor in whose time they were minted in, as well as their name. On the other side, the golden drake displays the Septim dragon. The silver Xs are known for the X they bear. Copper septims usually bear the syalised dragon associated with the Third Empire, with the head of Tiber I Septim on their front side.
Values[]
Specific values of each of the coins have not yet been mentioned, however there is a table to be used as a rule of thumb for Imperial currencies, as rates can change over time due to various economic fluctuations of inflation and deflation (e.g., war-time versus times of peace, failed harvests, etc). For example, if food supply to a city were to be cut, food prices in the city would rise steeply.
| Coins | Drake
|
X | Septim | Penny | Halfpenny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden coins | Drake | 1 | ||||
| Silver coins | X | 210 | 1 | |||
| Copper Coins | Septim | 1470 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Penny | 11760 | 56 | 8 | 1 | ||
| Halfpenny | 23520 | 112 | 16 | 2 | 1 | |
The coins most commonly encountered are pennies, septims, Xs, and drakes.
Examples of Currency Rates[]
- ???
Third Aldmeri Dominion[]
The only kingdoms of the Aldmeri Dominion that use currency are Alinor, Anequina, and Pellitine, as the kingdom of Valenwood almost exclusively use barter. Across the currency-using kingdoms of the Dominion, the Thalmor has standardised the currency weights, allowing for a 1-1 exchange rate of every coin. However, they did not standardise the coins themselves, as the kingdoms of Anequina and Pellitine still mint their own coins, only using the weight standards laid out by the Thalmor. This is done due to the two Khajiiti kingdoms being client states, and thus subject to certain (some say superficial) amounts of sovereignty.
Values[]
Examples of Currency Rates[]
- ???
The coins most commonly encountered are Xs, Xs, Xs, and gryphons.
Argonia[]
Argonia, the Empire of the Argonian peoples, is based around tribal society, and thus deals in barter, not currencies. Like with the Bosmer of Valenwood, outside currencies are accepted by the Argonian tribes if they have some intrinsic value to them, otherwise outlanders are required to trade using objects just as they do.
Some tribal chiefs have proposed the adoption of a currency so as to make the management of their vast empire more effective, some currencies of which have been adopted by a few tribes, but no official currencies have been adopted by their Empire as a whole.
Orc Strongholds[]
The orcs of orc strongholds neither buy nor sell and do not really comprehend it. Buying and selling is considered to be unmanly. In centuries past, trade was allowed in the sacred city of Orsinium, where merchants and traders gathered to exchange goods and gold, though they mostly traded with each other, and little with the orcs themselves.
Despite the common saying that orcs do not sell, the orcs do sell their captives on occasion to slavers. They call these slaves "gifts", and in return receive gifts from the slavers. Giving and receiving gifts is the common way of orcs for doing trade. However, giving a gift in return might not always occur immediately upon receiving a gift.
Akavir[]
The continent of Akavir is shrouded in mystery, though their invasion of Tamriel in the First Era has made known that the Akaviri used iron coins as their common currency, made either of iron or a similar alloy. No other Akaviri coinage is known to exist.