Tael (Themiclesian coin)

Polaris

Themiclesia
Value	​1⁄20 Qik (pre-decimal)
Mass	21.9 g
Diameter	35.4 mm
Thickness	1.82 mm
Edge	Milled
Composition	.875 Au .125 Cu
Gold	0.6169 troy oz
Years of minting	782 (782)
Obverse
Design date	805
Design discontinued	1227
Reverse

The Gold rang or Polaris is a Themiclesian gold coin, valued at ​¹⁄₂₀ qik or 24 twa.

It was first minted in 782 under Emperor Snang and saw considerable domestic and foreign circulation, reaching as far as Casaterra.

Name

The gold one rang piece was known as the Polaris coin due to its star-shaped motif usually found on one of its sides. Though this star was an intentional design choice, there is little to suggest it was Polaris, the North Pole Star, that is depicted.

History

Medieval

The one-rang (also translated "tael") piece was the first gold coin minted in a disc shape in Themiclesia. Though historical documents do not record the year it entered circulation, it is generally agreed it was introduced in 782 under Emperor Snang of the Dzi dynasty. International commerce between Themiclesia and the Meridian states began in earnest earlier in the century, calling for a coin of convenient shape and dependable fineness. Much of the trade in the first decades of the 8th century was under the royal household, though private trade quickly overtook it in volume.

Earlier Themiclesian coins, nominally weighing 12.3459 troy oz and resembling medals, were originally cast for transfer payments between government departments and as ceremonial gifts in state and diplomatic functions. While of dependable purity (debasement being an offence), they were too large for daily trade, which required cutting and measurement. The alternative was bronze coins, whose value-to-weight ratio was too low and not widely accepted outside of Themiclesia. The new gold coin was ​¹⁄₂₀ of the standard old coin and was minted with a clear pattern and within tighter tolerances, making forgeries more easily detected and boosting confidence in its fineness.

The piece was cast (rather than struck) with indentations and inscription, but a intricate and characteristic "halo" was added by striking the coin with a steel die. The geometric pattern served to accentuate efforts at clipping and was difficult to forge by sand casting. This did also meant that the cast blank must align with the die precisely, or the "halo" would be off-centre and make the coin appear clipped. A number of coins were rejected prior to issue and were found at former mint sites, though their high value meant that most mint errors were melted down.

The gold rang piece was widely circulated in Themiclesia, exchanging for 1,000 bronze coins of the same weight on average, though it dipped as low as 560 coins in the early 11th century and was as high as 1,500 towards the 19th century.

Other denominations such as the two rang, valued at ​¹⁄₁₀ qik, and half rang, at ​¹⁄₄₀ qik were issued in imitation of the one rang piece and shared similar aesthetics; however, the most widely accepted coin remained the one rang piece.

Via trade and piracy with Hallia, the one rang coin not only entered Meridia but also Casaterra in the 9th century. The monicker "Polaris" was given to the coin over the shape of the overstruck halo.

Pre-decimalization

After the monetization of silver coins in the late 16th century, the gold one rang remained in use but was minted less frequently under the effects of the exportation of gold from Themiclesia. The silver dollar was valued at ​¹⁄₁₂ the one rang.

Gold coins were recalled following the declaration of war with Menghe in 1936 and replaced with banknotes to prevent coins from falling into enemy hands. Most one rang coins are believed to have been melted down following the gold recall.

See also

• Qik