Economics of Qirsyllviar

Patrian economics are diverse and complicated.

Basic Principles
While all forms of currency have a set face-value, the "actual-value" of any currency is dependent on the market-value/price of commodities, so prices tend to fluctuate regularly, usually weekly if not daily. The market-value of goods, measured in points, changes in accordance of supply and demand, which reflectively increases or decreases the price of what people are buying. When the price of a certain product rises or falls, it can cause prices of similar products to change with it. This also means that the exchange rate between most currencies is also constantly fluctuating; although some currencies have a set-in-stone exchange rate with each other, usually by law or treaty.

When people buy a certain good from a market, it effectively increases the price due to the lack of supply to meet the demand, but if the demand is still high the sudden increase of the supply will not reduce the price. The opposite is also true; when people sell a good to a market, it decreases prices due to rising supply with lack of demand, but if there's still little demand for it a sudden loss of supply will not raise the price.

Shortages of Goods and the increase of prices as a result of supply and demand can sometimes cause inflation, the rapid decrease in the value of a currency; this can sometimes cause economies to become unstable. In the event of inflation, governments will sometimes counter it by taking a large amount of currency out of circulation and destroy it before minting new currency; but this has varying effects and can either end inflation for a time or do nothing to fix it.

One way that people make purchases in constantly fluctuating economies is by buying on credit. When someone buys on credit, they agree to buy then but pay later; meaning that they would pay the price of what the goods were that day at a later time, in the event that the market price of a product rises or drops over the intervening time. However, this can cause huge debt for the buyer in the event the price of the bought product drops exponentially, or if the market for the product crashes completely.

Alternatively, merchants can issue purchase agreements, or futures contracts; the gist is that they would pay in advance to purchase a product that will take some time to produce, such as crops or a large mount of weapons and armor, or even buildings, allowing people to sell what they don't yet have. For example; if a buyer pays in advance for the next season of crops, the farmer needs to produce the crops by the appointed time no matter what. This allows a buyer to buy a product in advance at the current price without worrying about the possibility of prices rising due to a bad season, allowing them obtain their products at lower prices. However the opposite is also true; if prices were to fall, they will have obtained the product at a higher price, which can in turn cause debt.

Currency
Many forms of currency exist across Patria.

Coinage
Coinage is the oldest form of official currency, and by far the most common. Coins are typically made of one of three precious metals: gold, silver, and copper. Gold is the most valuable and is most often used as the standard of base currency; silver and copper are usually used for smaller denominations, unless the currency isn't minted in gold.

Metal coins are minted usually using gold, silver or copper, but a few currencies use iron alongside, or instead of, one of the three main precious metals. Regardless, copper is usually considered more valuable than iron. In the past, some cultures issued a currency made of a valuable mineral such as jade, jasper, obsidian, turquoise and the like, but this practice is not common. The actual-value of coinage also depends on the purity of the coins minted, as they're usually mixed with small amounts of other metals such as tin, lead or zinc, for the purpose of making more coins.

Despite gold coins being the most valuable, the majority of market products are normally priced with silver coins; hence, silver is the most often exchanged coin of any currency, sub-unit or otherwise. Unless gold coins are the only coins in circulation, gold is usually reserved for the purchase of higher value products like livestock, buildings, plots of land, mercenaries or large orders of crops; copper or iron coins are usually used for lower value items such as small amounts of food or condiments.

Known Circulating Coinage
Currencies here are listed from base denomination to the lowest fractional sub-unit, and the value between them.
 * Aieg: minted in gold, silver and copper. Shape: oval
 * 1 Gold Aieg = 20 Silver Aiegs
 * 1 Silver Aieg = 40 Copper Aiegs
 * Arany: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Ezust: minted in silver. Shape: octagon
 * Rez: minted in copper. Shape: rectangle
 * Vas: minted in iron. Shape: triangle
 * 1 Arany = 50 Ezust
 * 1 Ezust = 10 Rez
 * 1 Rez = 5 Vas
 * Aureus: minted in gold. Shape: circle
 * Denarius: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Sestertius: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Dupondius: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * As: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Aureus = 25 Denarii
 * 1 Denarius = 4 Sestertii
 * 1 Sestertius = 2 Dupondii
 * 1 Dupondius = 2 Asses
 * Askiya: minted in gold. Shape: rhombus
 * Sonni: minted in silver. Shape: square
 * Za: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Askiya = 50 Sonni
 * 1 Sonni = 25 Zas
 * Balt: minted in gold. Shape: hexagon
 * Cug: minted in silver. Shape: six-point star
 * Nute:minted in copper. Shape: hexagon with round hole.
 * 1 Balt = 20 Cugs
 * 1 Cug = 5 Nutes
 * Banliang: minted in copper. Shape: round with square hole
 * Wuzhu: minted in iron. Shape: round with square hole
 * 1 Banliang = 100 Wuzhu
 * Bloom: minted only in iron. Shape: eight-point scallop
 * Claymore: minted in gold. Shape: rectangle
 * Rapier: minted in silver. Shape: rectangle
 * Athame: minted in copper. Shape: rectangle
 * 1 Claymore = 50 Rapiers
 * 1 Rapier = 25 Athames
 * Cocajade: minted only in Jade. Shape: round
 * Cruzado: minted in gold and silver. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Cruzado = 12 Silver Cruzados
 * Daric: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Siglos: minted in silver: round
 * 1 Daric = 20 Siglos
 * Dinar: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Dirham: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Fals: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Dinar = 20 Dirhams
 * 1 Dirham = 10 Fulus
 * Dok Chan: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Pod Duang: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Namo: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * Doubloon: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Escudo: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Reale: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Picayune: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Doubloon = 2 Escudos
 * 1 Escudos = 16 Reales
 * 1 Reale = 2 Picayunes
 * Dragon: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Lion: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Kraken: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Wolf: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Badger: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * Turtle: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Dragon = 10 Lions
 * 1 Lion = 25 Krakens
 * 1 Kraken = 20 Wolves
 * 1 Wolf = 13 Badgers
 * 1 Badger = 5 Turtles
 * Erniga: minted only in gold. Shape: trapezoid
 * Florin: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Gigliato: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Ducaton: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Cavallo: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Florin = 20 Gigliati
 * 1 Gigliato = 10 Ducatons
 * 1 Ducaton = 20 Cavalli
 * Guilder: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Stuiver: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Duit: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Guilder = 20 Stuivers
 * 1 Stuiver = 8 Duits
 * Grim: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Pheo: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * 1 Grim = 10 Pheos
 * Grimbuk: minted in gold, silver and copper. Shape: rectangle
 * Grzywna: minted in gold, silver, and copper. Shape: rectangle
 * 1 Gold Grzywna = 25 Silver Grzywnas
 * 1 Silver Grzywna = 50 Copper Grzywnas
 * Kahavanu: minted only in gold. Shape: circle
 * Karshapana: minted only in silver. Shape: irregular, usually square
 * Koban: minted in gold. Shape: oval
 * Nibuban: minted in silver. Shape: rectangle
 * Ichibuban: minted in silver. Shape: rectangle
 * Tsuho: minted in copper. Shape: round with round hole
 * 1 Koban = 20 Nibubans
 * 1 Nibuban = 20 Ichibubans
 * 1 Ichibuban = 10 Tsuhos
 * Koson: minted only in gold. Shape: round
 * Leu: minted in gold, silver, and copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Leu = 30 Silver Leus
 * 1 Silver Leu = 50 Copper Leus
 * Livre: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Ecu: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Denier: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Livre = 20 Ecu
 * 1 Ecu = 18 Denier
 * Magicred: minted in gold, silver, and copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Magicred = 35 Silver Magicred
 * 1 Silver Magicred = 25 Copper Magicred
 * Mark: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Thaler: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Kreuzer: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Groschen: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Pfennig: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Mark = 10 Thalers
 * 1 Thaler = 25 Kreuzers
 * 1 Kreuzer = 10 Groschens
 * 1 Grochen = 12 Pfennigs


 * Mun: minted in silver. Shape: circle with square hole
 * Yang: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * Won: minted in iron. Shape: round
 * 1 Mun = 25 Yangs
 * 1 Yang = 20 Wons


 * Nanak-Shahi: minted in gold, silver and copper. Shape: square
 * 1 Gold Nanak-Shahi = 30 Silver Nanak-Shahi
 * 1 Silver Nanak-Shahi = 45 Copper Nanak-Shahi
 * Noble: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Sceat: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Styca: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Noble = 10 Sceats
 * 1 Sceat = 30 Stycas
 * Obrin: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Titain: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Siztyr: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Obrin = 16 Titains
 * 1 Titain = 33 Siztyrs
 * Odin: minted in gold. Shape: circle.
 * Thor: minted in silver. Shape: octagon
 * Freyja: minted in silver. Shape: six-point scallop
 * Loki: minted in copper. Shape: rhombus
 * 1 Odin = 20 Thors
 * 1 Thor = 5 Freyjas
 * 1 Freyja = 10 Lokis
 * Oir: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Airgid: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Chopair: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Oir = 25 Airgids
 * 1 Airgid = 30 Chopairs
 * Ossis: minted in gold. Shape: long octagon
 * Piscis: minted in silver. Shape: rhombus
 * Glande: minted in copper. Shape: pentagon
 * 1 Ossis = 30 Piscis
 * 1 Piscis = 50 Glandes
 * Pagoda: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Mohar: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Rupiya: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Dam: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * Shivrai: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Pagoda = 15 Mohars
 * 1 Mohar = 16 Rupiyas
 * 1 Rupiya = 20 Dams
 * 1 Dam = 5 Shivrai


 * Qirsh: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Para: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Akce: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * 1 Qirsh = 40 Para
 * 1 Para = 3 Akce
 * Quachtli: minted only in gold. Shape: square frustum
 * Quechua: minted only in gold. Shape: cube
 * Reck: minted in gold, silver, copper, and iron. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Reck = 15 Silver Recks
 * 1 Silver Reck = 10 Copper Recks
 * 1 Copper Reck = 30 Iron Recks
 * Riksdaler: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Ortug: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Koppar: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Riksdaler = 34 Ortugs
 * 1 Ortug = 55 Koppars
 * Ruble: minted in gold, silver, and copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Gold Ruble = 25 Silver Rubles
 * 1 Silver Ruble = 50 Copper Rubles
 * Rupee: minted in gold, silver, and copper. Shape: long hexagon
 * 1 Gold Rupee = 50 Silver Rupees
 * 1 Silver Rupee = 50 Copper Rupees
 * Scarab: minted in gold. Shape: oval
 * Cobra: minted in silver. Shape: rhombus
 * Scorpion: minted in copper. Shape: triangle
 * 1 Scarab = 25 Cobras
 * 1 Cobra = 30 Scorpions
 * Shekel: minted only in gold. Shape: octagon
 * Zuz: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Prutah: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Shekel = 4 Zuz
 * 1 Zuz = 25 Prutah
 * Solis: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Luna: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Sidus: minted in copper. Shape: eight-point star
 * 1 Solis = 20 Lunas
 * 1 Luna = 50 Sidus
 * Sovereign: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Crown: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Shilling: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Farthing: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Sovereign = 5 Crowns
 * 1 Crown = 5 Shillings
 * 1 Shilling = 30 Farthings
 * Strigoi: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Liliac: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Dinte: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Strigoi = 50 Liliacs
 * 1 Liliac = 25 Dints
 * Talent: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Mina: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Drachma: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Obol: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * 1 Talent = 60 Minae
 * 1 Mina = 70 Drachmae
 * 1 Drachma = 6 Oboloi
 * Talon: minted in gold. Shape: triangle
 * Scale: minted in silver. Shape: half-circle
 * Fang: minted in copper. Shape: triangle
 * 1 Talon = 50 Scales
 * 1 Scale = 25 Fangs
 * Tangka: minted in gold, silver, and copper.
 * 1 Gold Tangka = 15 Silver Tangkas
 * 1 Silver Tangka = 20 Copper Tangka
 * Tcho: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Gjor: minted in silver, Shape: round
 * Hro: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Tcho = 24 Gjors
 * 1 Gjor = 33 Hros
 * Tornesel: minted only in silver. Shape: round
 * Troni: minted only in silver. Shape: Square with round hole
 * Unicorn: minted in gold. Shape: round
 * Merk: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Groat: minted in silver. Shape: round
 * Bodle: minted in copper. Shape: round
 * 1 Unicorn = 20 Merks
 * 1 Merk = 5 Groats
 * 1 Groat = 2 Bodles
 * Van: minted only in iron. Shape: round with square hole
 * Xictre: minted in silver and iron.
 * 1 Silver Xictre = 25 Iron Xictres
 * Yyrdilren: minted only in silver. Shape: round
 * Zen: minted only in copper. Shape: square with square hole

Paper Currencies
Banknotes, more commonly known as cash, have started to come into fashion as legal tenders over the last couple centuries; yet they're not as popular since they're so easy to counterfeit, and only a handful of countries circulate them. Face-value-wise, they start out at the same value as the highest value coin of the base currency, and then make into higher values.

Like gold, banknotes are usually reserved for exceptionally large transactions; most people try to avoid them otherwise.

As mentioned above, only a few countries print paper banknotes alongside coinage. The following currencies are the only monetary units known to have printed banknotes.
 * Balt: printed as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100
 * Cimlet: printed as 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, and 100
 * Dragon: printed as 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100
 * Jiaozi: printed as 1, 10, 100, and 200
 * Huizi: printed as 1, 10, 100, and 200
 * 1 Jiaozi = 20 Huizi
 * Hansatsu: Printed as 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000
 * Leu: printed as 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100
 * Magicred: printed as 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 1000
 * Mark: printed as 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100
 * Ruble: printed as 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100

Other Currencies
A select few countries circulate other things as their official currency, or partially for use as commodity money.
 * Gold Nugget: In a few pre-colonial Nekcrozii cultures, rather than a set coinage, simple unrefined nuggets of gold are circulated as currency, with prices being based on weight. This practice has since fallen out of use, mostly.
 * Seashells: The use of seashells as currency is one of the earliest monetary methods on Patria and remains in use in many places today; however, it has been falling out of use over the last few centuries. Cowries are the most common, but Olive shells, Bivalve halves, auger shells, conch shells, tusk shells, land snail shells, and many more, are used as well. The value of shells is determined by how complete and clean they are; dirty or broken shells are not usually accepted in most transactions. These days, shells only fully circulate amongst the undersea nations Bivalvia and Cnidaria; but there is great use of shells all over Maritymir, as well as parts of Ingodija and Nekcroz.
 * Gem: Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires etc. gems are another precious substance used as a currency on Patria. Instead of denominating them by value, Gems are instead valued by weight; this means that any number of gems, no matter the type, could be used to meet the priced weight, as different sized gems would have different weights. Uncut gems that are freshly mined hold no value as currency, they only enter circulation once they are properly cut to a valuable shape. Gems are often used as a pseudo currency when regular money is unavailable; but, the Empire of Atlantis is different. Being the largest producer of gemstones than anywhere else on Patria, the Empire of Atlantis uses Gems as its full circulating currency.
 * Wood: Some ancient stateless cultures, particularly nomadic peoples, used wooden coins or plaques as currency when trading with each other or with established nations. However, this method of legal tender fell out of use several centuries ago.

Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting is the illegal production of money, or anything that isn't officially endorsed by a government. Counterfeiting has been a problem since money was first invented, and remains a problem today. Counterfeiting can cause inflation, the rapid decrease in the value of a currency, as well as cause people to lose trust in a currency.

Trading
Economics through trade and barter rather than commodity currency is not a new thing anywhere on Patria. When merchants take products instead of money for payment, usually at the amount equal to the price of what they're selling, they usually do so with the intention of getting a bigger profit by reselling what they were given at a better price. They sometimes trade on credit, but this can cause massive debt in the event a following trade deal falls through or the market for the product collapses. Trade between nations is one of the biggest sources of income on Patria, and free trade zones produce the most revenue.

Despite being the biggest method of profit and revenue, trading has its limitations and risks because of certain trade barriers imposed by nations. Most goods usually have a tariff, a tax for transporting goods across national borders, placed on them, and cannon be taken in or out of a country unless it is paid. Additionally, nations often place smaller taxes on many goods for transporting them through towns within their borders. Not paying attention to these taxes can lead to a loss of profit or even debt. Other trade restrictions include import/export licenses, import quota, embargoes, currency devaluation, etc., and are the biggest blocks to merchants trying to make a profit.

Trading Companies
Merchants often travel and peddle alone or in small groups, but sometimes they will take jobs from trading companies or work directly for them. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of trading companies operating around Patria, which deal in products ranging from wheat to weapons to slaves.

The largest and most well-known are listed here.

Angevin Company
The largest trading company in Nekcroz, operating out of Angevin and stretching across Weirland.

Craddock Trading Company
A trading company operating out of Camelot.

Cuvillier Trading Company
The largest trading company in Soleil

Fortuna Trading Company
The largest trading company in the Roman Empire.

Martyniak Brothers' Trading Company
A vampire-run trading company in headquartered in, and operating out of, Transylvania. It was founded by two vampire brothers, Costache & Jadranko Martyniak (hence the guild's name), and is one of the biggest trading guilds in north-central Eurodon.

Mamiya Company
The largest trading company in Yamatai.

Northwest Ingodija Company
The largest trading company in Ingodija, operating out of Edwardia and stretching across the continent.

Otto Trading Company
The largest trading company in the Germanian Empire.

Pritchard Trading Company
The largest trading company in Talmyrnia.

Tatre Trading Company
A maritime trading company operating out of New Hylar.

Banking
Banks are institutions for depositing and lending money.

Banks charge interest when giving loans, especially when lending to governments. When banks give loans, they usually put pressure on the borrower to get the money back if borrowers are late or default their debts. This may include refusal to lend any more money, or backing enemies of the defaulters.

Banks
All countries have their own banks, but smaller ones are usually overlooked by the larger more powerful ones. The largest and most well-known are listed here.

List of Known Banks

 * Bank of New Albion:
 * Gem Bank of Avalar:
 * High Bank of Hylar: based in the Empire of Hylar, the bank is one of the richest and most influential in southern Aquilonis.
 * Bank of Livonia:
 * Bank of Markaydia:
 * Bank of Talmyrnia:
 * Imperial Bank of Rome: the largest and most powerful bank in Eurodon; based in the Roman Empire (hence the name). Many national economies of Eurodon live under its influence, whether they know it or not.
 * Bank of Rossiya:
 * Bank of Shogyo: the primary bank of the Yamato Empire.

Notes & Trivia:

 * In the currency section of country listings of the continents, currencies are listed from base denomination to the lowest fractional sub-unit.
 * Most currencies listed are based of real historical currencies, while others are unique to Patria. Some of those that are based off real historical ones, have had their values adjusted or revamped.
 * The obverse and reverse of the coins and notes are not listed, since multiple countries that use the same type of currency would have differing a obverse and reverse, and the images often change with the times.
 * On that note; the obverse and reverse often depict the faces of current or former rulers, certain gods or goddesses, or other national symbols. Well used mottoes or sayings are also often printed onto currencies as well.
 * The terms "Commodity money" and "Commodity currency" have two different meanings.
 * On Patria, "Stocks" simply refer to the amount of a product a single person or entity has in supply.
 * While the concept of credit exists, Bonds do not exist on Patria. The concept was too complicated for the author to shape to Patrian standards.
 * For coins listed as shaped "scallop", it's another way of saying flower.