Shivrashanian Chan

From FrathWiki

The Shivrashanian Chan is the currency of Shivrashan. It is pegged to the Imperial Chan at the rate of 1 Shivrashanian chan = ²/₃ Imperial chan. It is subdivided into 10 vezh, 100 zash, or 1000 vi, though only chan and zash are commonly used in giving prices. The term vezh remains in use on coins.

Originally, Shivrashan used the same non-decimal division as the Empire and had the same value. However, the currency was decimalized by introducing a new chan worth 10 vezh (that is, ²/₃ old chan) and alterting the zash from ¹/₁₂ vezh to ¹/₁₀ vezh.

Initially, the smallest coin was the vi, i.e., ¹/₁₀ zash, with Vi, 2-vi, and ½-zash coins circulating. During the changeover, the old ¼-zash, ½-zash, and zash coins were, respectively, valued at 2, 4, and 8 vi. The ½-zash and zash coins were quickly removed from circulation, but the old ¼-zash continued circulating. Likewise, the old 3- and 6-zash coins circulated alongside the new ¼- and ½-vezh coins, and the old vezh and 3-vezh remained unchanged. A ½-chan coin was introduced at the time of the changeover, but introduction of the ¼-chan was delayed.

The tiny value of the vi, and the unpopularity of dividing the zash into tenths, rather than the more traditional quarters, lead to a reform of the smallest coins. The vi and 2-vi were declared to be now worth ¹/₈ and ¼ zash, and the mint began making new ¼-zash coins, halting the vi and 2-vi, the ¹/₈ zash being removed from circulation.

The old denomination of 3 vezh remained in production even after the introduction of the ¼-chan, and attempts to remove the 3-vezh have proven unpopular. The ¼-chan sees little circulation.

Imperial coins in the denominations of ¼ zash up to 3 vezh are sometimes found in circulation, as these are all either of equal value to circulating Shivrashanian coins or, in the case of the ¼-, ½- and 1-zash coins, very close (properly speaking, 1 Imperial zash is ⁵/₆ Shivrashanian zash, but that difference is generally ignored, being miniscule). Tourist shops will often accept Imperial banknotes as well, at the rate of 1 Imperial chan = 1½ chan.

Coins

• ¼ Zash
• ½ Zash
• Zash
• 2½ zash (¼ Vezh)
• 5 zash (½ Vezh)
• 10 zash (1 Vezh)
• 25 zash (¼ Chan) (uncommon)
• 30 zash (3 Vezh)
• 50 zash (½ Chan)

Banknotes

• Chan
• 2½ Chan
• 5 Chan
• 10 Chan
• 25 Chan