Currency: Difference between revisions

When bartering for goods and services no longer meets the needs of commerce, the sentient beings of the [[Forgotten Realms|Realms]] turn to using items with a more universal value, namely precious [[metals]], [[gem]]s, and some minerals. Metals are rarely found in their pure form in nature and require significant energy and effort to refine and purify them. In general, the rarity and the amount of effort it takes to produce a given metal determines its worth. Sometimes this formula is modified by a particular property of the metal, or by a widespread use (and therefore greater demand). The penalty for counterfeiting is death in most places because cities, kingdoms, and nations rely on the acceptance and trust of their currency.<ref name="CotR-9">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Set/Cyclopedia of the Realms|9}}</ref>