"All of the Kosva kingdoms use their own svuda, but the face on the coin only matters to the taxman."— A Sell-sword's Guide to Zinruna
Overview
Svuda is the name for the tin, copper, silver, and gold coinage utilized in the seven
Kosva realms of
Zinruna as well as in some surrounding territories. The currency traces its history back to the short-lived
Empire of Zinruna. Though the empire itself fell hundreds of years ago, the coinage system has been preserved by its successor states and as such the coins of the various kingdoms are generally accepted as valid currency by the common folk of all seven kingdoms. However, tax collectors will often reject foreign coins, making domestic coins ever so slightly more valuable.
Denominations
The Svuda denomination system has been preserved since the days of the old empire with very few adjustments and none that have not been adopted by all seven kingdoms. There are five variants of Svuda denominations, each denomination is worth sixty of the denomination bellow it.
Mikid
Mikids are the smallest denomination of Svuda. Traditionally they are minted from tin and weigh about 2 grams. Mikids are very low value currency and as such are seldom used by any but the poorest of people.-
Leru
Leru are the second smallest denomination of Svuda. They are traditionally minted from copper and weigh about 4 grams. Leru get their name from the old Kosva word for 'fish' as one could originally buy a mid-sized fish with one Leru, though inflation has left it less valuable these days. This currency is most commonly used among farmers and laborers.
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Sman
Smans are the mid-value denomination of the Svuda. They are traditionally minted from silver and weigh about 3 grams. Smans are used by all levels of society but are especially useful to the middle class.
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Nezul
Nezul are the highest denomination of the Svuda that are used outside of the noblity and high-ranking merchants. They are gold coins that weigh about 8 grams. Most Svuda that make their way outside of Zinruna are Nezul as they are often used to pay for the mercenaries that frequently travel there to fight in the various wars.
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Rano
Ranos are the highest value denomination of the Svuda. They are gold coins with rubies embedded in their center and weigh about 20 grams. They are only really used by the upper nobility and particularly wealthy merchants.
Notable Variants
Imperial Svuda
The Imperial Svuda are the coins minted during the short-lived
Empire of Zinruna and can be found throughout former imperial territory. These Svuda are quite rare as the Empire fell soon after its foundation. Imperial Svuda are notably not minted with gold, supposedly due to the emperor
Alganvi declaring that gold was only fit for use in religious works. Imperial Svuda are also notable in that they are accepted as tax payments by all seven kingdoms.
Ultuski Svuda
The Svuda from the
Ultuski Potentate are notable in that they are minted exclusively in gold, silver, and copper. Mikids are minted from copper but are smaller than their tin counterparts and Ultuski Ranos do not contain rubies but are larger to compensate.
Cultural Influence
Within Zinruna, the Svuda serves as a present reminder of their brief unity under the empire and serves as a unifying force despite the political and cultural divisions of the subcontinent. Merchants in peacetime can easily travel without needing to concern themselves with currency exchange. In the past century, as transportation has become easier due to climate change, this has lead to periods of peace becoming harder and harder for kings to break, requiring ever more justification to disrupt the lucrative trade.
Outside of Zinruna, the Svuda's status as a reliable currency within the entirety of the seven kingdoms has made the realm an even more attractive destination for work as both merchants and mercenaries, leading to a large number of foreigners making their way to the subcontinent and increasing their political and cultural influence there.
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