pekels

Pekels are the traditional currency of the fictional realm of Eldoria. The unit, called a pekel, has the plural pekels. Everyday coins come in copper pekel, silver pekel, and gold pekel. Values are defined as 1 copper pekel equals 1 unit; 1 silver pekel equals five copper pekels; 1 gold pekel equals twenty-five copper pekels (or five silver pekels). Physical coins are minted by the Royal Mint in Ardentia; designs feature the river-lion crest and the year of minting; edge inscriptions deter counterfeiting.

The pekel originated in the late first millennium as a standardized medium of exchange to replace barter among coastal and inland towns; it gained common usage by the 10th century and became legal tender across Eldoria by the 12th century. The minting standard has been maintained to ensure compatibility across distant markets, with occasional debasements during crises.

In commerce, pekels circulate in daily transactions from markets to long-distance trade; in modern fiction, the currency is backed by a notional treasury reserve and regulated by a central bank-like authority, the Ministry of Coinage.

In culture, pekels appear in many Eldorian epics and role-playing games, often symbolizing value, trust, and regional identity.