A while back I was writing an RP story for my blog in which I purchased a newspaper on the street in Steeltopia. I wanted to detail the exchange but wondered - what form of currency do they have in Steeltopia? I knew Caledon used the pound but it was the only hard information about currency in the Steamlands that I had available. I was in mid- story, mind you. So I wrote around it...
"I heard the call of a newsboy, "Extra! Extra! Super Weapon Destroys Anchorage!" I was out of the local currency as the Winterfell Embassy was temporarily closed for the reconstruction and I had no petty cash drawer available. I will never part with that lucky silver dollar I had used earlier. I had been at my Cape Wrath house earlier and only had Caledon and Babbage currency on my person at that moment. I handed him a Caledon pound. "What do you expect me to do with that? I can't break that sir," said the young ruffian. "Keep it," I muttered at the little pipsqueak as I grabbed my copy of the Tintype & Telegraph and stomped off."
Not wanting to get caught in that position again, I decided to research the question of currency in the Steamlands. My research consisted of asking the question in the group chat of each nation, and noticing references to currency in some writing by estate owners or other leading citizens and a conversation about Winterfell's policy with the Seneschelf herself.
The list below is what I came up with. I cannot claim this as the definitive list as my research shows no such animal exists, no matter what anyone tells you. The only definitive statement I can make about this list is that when I wish to refer to Steamlands currency in my own RP writing, this is the list I will go by. Mostly.
STEAMLANDS CURRENCY
Caledon - Pound
New Babbage - Dollar
New Toulouse - Dollar
Steelhead - Salmon
Steeltopia - Calam
Winterfell - Gold
Some details...
Caledon - Pound
Obvious, isn't it? Caledon's 19th century Victorian steampunk theme has repeated nods to Queen Victoria's rule.
New Babbage - Dollar
I would have expected the currency in NB to be the pound, as I always liken walking through NB to 'walking through Dickens.' But when I asked the question in the community's group chat several answers came forward and all said dollar. However, do note, there does not appear to be an official currency in NB as a few different dollars were named when I inquired. For example, there was the Tenk Dollar. There were others like that, named after someone or something. So I will not write about the New Babbage Dollar but will simply use 'dollar' or 'dollars' when writing about daily use of currency in NB. "The aroma of the pretzel stand called to me. I gave the man a dollar and pointed to a rather large pretzel in the front row...." Oh yes, there would be change from that dollar.
New Toulouse - Dollar
The one place on this list where I did not ask for input from the locals. Why bother? NT presents a "New Orleans 1890-1920" theme. This puts us in the United States, so it must be the dollar in NT.
Steelhead - Salmon
This was the answer from everyone who gave an opinion. From my experiences in Steelhead, I had no reason to doubt it.
Steeltopia - Calam
This is the official currency in Steeltopia and was introduced not too long ago. I assume it comes from the name of the Emperor, SteelCobra Calamari.
Winterfell - Gold
Winterfell currency, according to Lady Twilight is gold, silver and copper...in that descending order. Miss Serra notes that this is common usage in fantasy writing. She was obviously referring to coins in this convo. This leads me to conclude that no paper currency exists in Winterfell.
Note: There is in Winterfell, in addition to the coins above, the Lunar. It is many, many, many, many, many times more valuable than the Winterfell Gold. But Miss Serra says it is so rare few have ever seen it. I have decided that any reference to it in my future writing will capitalize both words, The Lunar, to further emphasize how special, rare and valuable such a coin is/would be. For example - "I am the Winterfell Ambassador and I have only seen a drawing of The Lunar and it was not a good drawing, hard to make out its markings." Miss Serra stresses the 'rareness' of The Lunar to the point I doubt I will ever write a story that says I have seen one nor is it likely I will write of one being in existence during my days in Winterfell. There might be one but I would only have heard rumor of it and might find these rumors implausible. I think any story that includes an actual Lunar should only be written by Miss Serra herself. It is not clear to me that she has even seen one.
Corrections are welcome but I am comfortable with the above list and unless a head of state tells me something above is incorrect I am unlikely to budge on this list. But, of course, in your writing you may do as you wish. Oh, and I give you the above information at no charge. /me smiles
