Currency in the Middle Ages took the form coins minted in denominations corresponding to the quantity of precious material used (gold or silver). In Bohemia, the silver Prague Groschen long served as legal tender. The decimal system was not in general use - one Groschen divided into 7 'pennies', and those in turn into 14 hellers. Similarly, counting and calculating was done in dozens (12) and threescores ('kopa' - 60). However, since this would be rather confusing for us today, the smallest unit of value in the game is 0.1 Groschen.
Around the year 1400, the quality (and hence the value) of the Groschen dropped significantly, with other metals being added to the silver. This was to do with overexploitation of the mining deposits of the most valuable metals around Kuttenberg, Central Bohemia, and Jihlava (Iglau) in Moravia and a shortage of goods for exchange with foreign countries. Economic and financial problems at that time led to growing anti-Semitism, a rise in crime and, ultimately, the collapse of the Czech currency. Counterfeit coins were in circulation alongside genuine ones, despite the fact that counterfeiting was one of the most serious crimes and was punished by burning at the stake.
Coins were circular and marked with a crown or the crowned head of the monarch on the obverse, and in Bohemia the Czech lion in a square on the reverse, substituted by an eagle in Moravia. Smaller silver coins were minted right up to the Hussite wars.
The mint employed two mint-masters to vouch for the precious metal quality of the coins, under mortal oath. The prices of goods and articles varied locally and changed frequently.
Currency in the Middle Ages took the form coins minted in denominations corresponding to the quantity of precious material used (gold or silver). In Bohemia, the silver Prague Groschen long served as legal tender. The decimal system was not in general use - one Groschen divided into 7 'pennies', and those in turn into 14 hellers. Similarly, counting and calculating was done in dozens (12) and threescores ('kopa' - 60). However, since this would be rather confusing for us today, the smallest unit of value in the game is 0.1 Groschen.
Around the year 1400, the quality (and hence the value) of the Groschen dropped significantly, with other metals being added to the silver. This was to do with overexploitation of the mining deposits of the most valuable metals around Kuttenberg, Central Bohemia, and Jihlava (Iglau) in Moravia and a shortage of goods for exchange with foreign countries. Economic and financial problems at that time led to growing anti-Semitism, a rise in crime and, ultimately, the collapse of the Czech currency. Counterfeit coins were in circulation alongside genuine ones, despite the fact that counterfeiting was one of the most serious crimes and was punished by burning at the stake.
Coins were circular and marked with a crown or the crowned head of the monarch on the obverse, and in Bohemia the Czech lion in a square on the reverse, substituted by an eagle in Moravia. Smaller silver coins were minted right up to the Hussite wars.
The mint employed two mint-masters to vouch for the precious metal quality of the coins, under mortal oath. The prices of goods and articles varied locally and changed frequently.