The Fallacy of 'Gold' in Fantasy Games: A Historical Perspective on Currency Systems

This article challenges the common fantasy game trope of using 'gold' as a universal currency. The author argues that in the ancient Mediterranean world, gold coins were impractical for everyday transactions due to their high value. Analyzing ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval currency systems, the article demonstrates that silver and copper coins were the primary mediums of exchange. The author suggests that fantasy games should adopt more historically accurate currency systems, reflecting the economic realities of ancient societies. This includes considering non-monetary transactions like bartering and debt accounting to better represent wealth disparities and economic functions.