Denominations
Bronze Coin: FrostfangValue: The smallest denomination, used for everyday transactions like food, firewood, or basic supplies.
Design:Obverse: A snarling wolf, symbolizing survival and loyalty.Reverse: A snowflake, representing the ever-present cold of the White Waste.
Material: A mix of bronze and nickel, giving it a frosted, dull sheen.
Cultural Significance: The Frostfang is a common coin among the lower classes, representing humility and endurance. It is also believed to bring luck when carried on long journeys.Silver Coin:
IcecrestValue: Mid-tier currency, often used for trade between settlements or the purchase of weapons, furs, and other durable goods.
Design:Obverse: A crescent moon cradling a weirwood leaf, symbolizing divine guidance and protection under the Old Gods.
Reverse: The silhouette of a mountain crowned with ice, signifying strength and resilience.
Material: Polished silver with a slight bluish tint, giving it the appearance of glacial ice.
Cultural Significance: The Icecrest is considered a sacred coin, often placed on the eyes of the dead to guide their spirits to the Old Gods. Wealthy traders and warriors carry these coins as a symbol of their success and divine favor.
Gold Coin: EverglintValue: The highest denomination, reserved for significant transactions such as alliances, land purchases, or payment for rare goods like Frostveil Steel or ice dragon bones.
Design:Obverse: A radiant sunburst surrounding a weirwood tree, representing the eternal power and presence of the Old Gods.
Reverse: An ice dragon in flight, symbolizing majesty, power, and the connection between the divine and mortal realms.
Material: Pure gold mixed with traces of platinum, giving it a bright, reflective sheen that appears to glimmer even in low light.
Cultural Significance: The Everglint is both a currency and a status symbol. Owning one is a mark of great wealth and influence. These coins are often passed down through generations as family heirlooms, imbued with ancestral pride.
Usage and Trade
Bronze Frostfangs:
Common among the lower classes and used in barter alongside goods like pelts, dried fish, and firewood. A Frostfang is typically enough to buy a loaf of bread or a bundle of kindling.
Silver Icecrests:
Preferred by merchants and craftsmen, Icecrests are used in settlements for bulk purchases and trade. For example, a well-made fur cloak might cost 5 Icecrests.
Gold Everglints:
Rarely used in daily transactions, Everglints are reserved for significant exchanges. A skilled warrior's service for a year or a plot of fertile land might cost 1-2 Everglints.
Crafting and CirculationCoins are minted in the Icy Anvil, a sacred forge located at the heart of the White Waste, where frostflames (similar to those used for Frostveil Steel) are used to temper the metal. Each coin is blessed by priests of the Old Gods, believed to carry their protection against ill fortune.
Conversion Rates (Example)
Conversion Rates
1 Gold Everglint = 50 Silver Icecrests
1 Silver Icecrest = 100 Bronze Frostfangs
1 Gold Everglint = 5,000 Bronze Frostfangs
Legends of the Currency
Frostfangs of Fortune: Travelers whisper that carrying seven Frostfangs can protect against getting lost in a snowstorm, as wolves may guide the bearer to safety.
Icecrest of the Moonlit Path: A superstition states that placing an Icecrest under your pillow allows dreams of guidance from the Old Gods.
The Everglint of Kings: One ancient Everglint, said to have been forged with dragonfire, is rumored to bestow its owner with the wisdom of the Old Gods, leading to unshakable rule and prosperity.