Overview
The gold crown is the highest widely recognized coin in Aletheia.
It is rare in daily life and primarily used for large transactions.
In most stable regions:
1 Gold Crown equals 20 Silver Pennies.
That is nearly three weeks of common labour.
Most commoners may never handle a gold coin, though many will have opinions about those who do.
Use and Circulation
Gold crowns are typically used for:
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Land purchases
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Guild contracts
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Noble obligations
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Temple endowments
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Military payments
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Significant magical commissions
Gold often moves between institutions rather than individuals. When it appears in ordinary hands, questions usually follow.
Symbolism and Power
Gold represents concentrated wealth.
A handful of gold crowns may equal months of labour. A chest of gold may represent years.
For this reason, gold is often:
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Stored rather than spent
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Guarded carefully
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Associated with authority and status
A society where gold changes hands daily is either astonishingly prosperous or about to have a very interesting year.
Rarity
Gold is less common than silver for both practical and structural reasons:
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Gold supply is limited
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Minting requires stable authority
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Large transactions are less frequent than daily trade
Gold compresses labour into metal. That compression is what gives it narrative weight.
When treasure is measured in gold, it matters.