Money, Money, Money
by Dave

4 farthings (groats) = 1 copper pence (copper)

The farthing actually appears to be a metal bead, with a hole through it lengthwise. The copper coin is thin and penny sized and has an imprint of a sowing man on the obverse and a horse and plow on the reverse, it is mostly copper and zinc.

10 coppers = 1 silver pence (hop)

This coin is dime sized and has an imprint of a hop plant on the obverse and a profile of the City of Beltisheim on the reverse, it contains 30% silver, 60% copper and 10% zinc.

10 silver pence = 1 silver mark (lady)

This coin is quarter sized and has an imprint of Sagron the Lady on the obverse and a seven pointed star over a mountain on the reverse. It is thick and has a heavy milled edge.

2 silver marks = 1 gold penny (lord)

This coin is nickel sized and has an imprint of the King on the obverse and the Falls of Rauros carved on the reverse. It is gold leavened with silver.

10 gold pennies = 1 gold mark (crown)

This coin is square and thick, has an imprint of the Crown of Landsrue on the obverse and a rosette of Eidelweiss flowers on the reverse. It is pierced with a square hole and is gold with some silver.

There are three mints in Landsrue. One in the capital, one in Chystyr and one in Kessel. All are operated under charter to the King, by the Holy Order of the Argent Keys, the legal and accounting arm of Father Church.

copper rune (runner, apprentice)

The rune is usually an irregular coin that has the mark of a master goldsmith and that of a clan. They are all intended to match the High King's Royal Standard, a mixture of brass, zinc, copper and nickel. The markings vary, but the coin is generally about 1/2 inch across. Forgeries are rare. Who would forge something so cheap? A copper rune is about 2 copper pence.

12 copper runes = 1 silver thaler (anvil, maker)

The thaler is a silver piece the size of a half dollar coin, with milled edges. The depiction is an anvil under a crown, a makers mark on the obverse. A thaler is roughly equal to 2 silver pence or hops.

12 silver thalers = 1 silver lamp (light, lanthorn)

The lamp is a square ingot the size of a chunky bar, with chamfered edges. The makers mark on the top face. A lamp is roughly equal to 24 silver pence or hops.

4 silver lamps = 1 gold thaler (matron, goodwife, eagle)*

The gold thaler is a piece three inches across, which has the cross section of a 4 leaved clover. There isn't any depiction. The coin can be broken into quarters. A gold thaler is roughly equal to 4 gold pennies or lords. Dwarven gold usually assays at a very high gold content, which means less coin for more value. 2 gold thalers can equal 1 gold mark.
*It is only minted in Eaglereach, but is in circulation anyway.

12 silver lamps = 1 gold Hammer

The Hammer is a round piece three inches across, and 1/4 inch thick. It weighs 6 ounces. A gold hammer is roughly equal to 12 gold pennies or lords.

12 gold Hammers = 1 Orb

The Orbpiece is a small piece of platinum, set into a gold rim. They are are not usually circulated, being treasury stock. An Orb is 144 gold pennies, or about 15 gold marks.

12 Orbs = 1 Mithril Queen

The queen is a small, numbered piece of mithril, set into a platinum rim. They are are not usually circulated, being treasury stock. The piece of mithril enclosed is three inches by 1/8 inch thick. A Queen is 180 gold marks, or 45 pounds of gold. Mithril in refined form is worth a hundred times its weight in gold, to the right buyer.

12 Mithril Queens = 1 Orichalcum Palantir

Orichalcum, the rosy hued silver which contains raw enchantment. A fabulous disc of the most magical metal ever mined by dwarves, rumored to be owned by the king only. No one has ever divulged a description, but rumor has it that one True Ounce of the Big O equals 10 ounces refined Mithril, making the Orichalcum piece the most fabulous treasure known. If it existed, 1 Palantir would equal around 22,000 Landsrue gold pennies. That is 550 pounds of gold, considering Lords are 40% gold by weight. Dragons really, really like the Big O. Holds and halls have disappeared under suspicious circumstances on the rumor that orichalcum has been mined there.

Coins are made on an as-needed basis by clans, master smiths, or chieftains. There are no mints, but all coins must be made to the standards set by the High King.