Are gold coins universal?

[el-remmen]

Aquerra has different coins of different values - with exchange rates based on the purity of the minting and the political relationship between their nations.

Some places have such valuable coinage anyone will take it anywhere - others are so close to worthless people won't take them, or will want three to four times the normal amount to sell something.

I have set exhange rates and of course, the tax man gets his portion. .. .

For an example see the Aquerra wiki: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Money+-+Kingdom+of+Thricia

 

[Falkus]

We dont trrade in gold at this moment, we trade in paper, printed with a value, based on Gold reservers of our countries.

Just to point out, the international gold standard has been abandoned for over thirty years due to its numerous flaws.

 

[lukelightning]

Luckily my campaign is set in a large nation with a powerful, well-organized government (the Diamond Throne from Arcana Unearthed). The DT has a firmly established currency and at one point in its history made a concerted effort to abolish/melt down and recast the coins of previous kingdoms. The neighboring kingdoms have their own coins but both sides of the border have a vested interest in keeping their currencies unmixed. To the north there is the Faen land of Harrodeep who's coins are 1/2 the size and value of the DT's coins (since Faen are small).

That is as far as I'm willing to take currency exchange; worrying about Wendorian Farthings being exchanged for Penembaline Ha'shillings at a rate of .93% won't make me or the players enjoy the game any more.

Now if I was running a game in which the PCs are running a business that involves foreign trade, then I'd probably take a % of their profits to represent currency exchange stuff.

 

[Staffan]

IMC, gold is gold. Occasionally I might make an issue out of it ("You note that the assassin is carrying quite a few Karrnathi-minted coins, which is odd since you're in Breland." or "In the hoard you find 300 gp. (Rolls Appraise check) The coins are from pre-Galifar Aundair, and would probably be worth more to a collector."), but generally 1 gp is 1 gp.

Note that according to the PHB, 50 coins weigh 1 lb, and 1 lb of gold is worth 50 gp. To me, that is a pretty strong indication that gold coins are valued for their metal content, nothing more.

 

[KB9JMQ]

If it looks like a gold piece then its a gold piece at least in the games I run.
In the game I play in the DM has a different coinage nearly every province in her world.
It's fun and works for her but is just too much work IMHO.

 

[Crothian]

I use minted coins. It dpoesn't really bog down the game at all and adds a nice bit to it.

 

[Aaron L]

I use minted coins. Gold is still valued by weight, but different countries have different weights and use different materials. And sometimes people in one place just wont want coins from another place. National enemies dont like each others coinage.

 

[frankthedm]

I use minted coins. Gold is still valued by weight, but different countries have different weights and use different materials. And sometimes people in one place just wont want coins from another place. National enemies dont like each others coinage.

More or less the same for me.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I use Abstract Wealth; D&D price values are pretty "abstract" anyway.

Sometimes I throw in the added inconvenience that the PCs just can't make Wealth checks, or take a penalty to their Wealth checks, to represent they're in foreign lands or their money's the wrong color or there's an embargo going on. (Or they've pissed off the wrong people themselves.)

Makes for less accounting, in my opinion.

 

[kigmatzomat]

IMC there are multiple coinages but a few of them are accepted as "universal" due to their well known quality controls and the high detail on the minting. This is similar to the way that the US dollar and the Euro are both widely accepted even in regions that have their own currency.

The party is aware that some coin conversion goes on at times, particularly when dealing with old treasures containing coins too old for people to be sure of the value or authenticity. Some areas frown on the use of foreign currency and have signs posted that an item will cost "1gp-local, 1.15gp-foreign" Since the bulk usery rate is about 10%, it is cheaper to use the money changers.

This is a point of realism I, and my players, enjoy but I reintroduced simplicity in the form of letters of credit. These documents are from well known individuals/groups that usually have local factors, most commonly major nobility, regional merchant guilds, or large organized churches. The local factors have access to low level magics (augery) that will help confirm the validity of the documents and their bearers. Rather than specifying an amount of currency, the letters instead use quantities of commodities ("one pound, four ounces, three drams gold") to be universal.

My players have allied themselves with one of the largest shipping consortiums on the planet and are almost guaranteed access to their funds in any major city. When venturing farther abroad, or in regions where the consortium's presence is thin, they will acquire local letters of credit. Normally letters of credit have a 3-5% surcharge on them (still cheaper than a money changer) but the party has invested heavily in the consortium so they are actually taking loans out against their own investments; reducing profit and increasing liability.

This all fades into the background for the most part. The rogue, just to be safe, carries a handful of jems in his possum pouch.