2 Bits, 4 Bits, 6 Bits, a Dollar....

The United States Uses a variant on the muggle monetary system. It is easily worked out, and the exchange rate is usually about 2:1 with the muggle counterpart.

The smallest denomination is the half-pence, which is noted as a fraction at the very end of the price, or by following the value with the the letter h. Next is the pence(penny), noted as a p at the end of the value. 10 pence makes a dime. Twelve and a half pence makes up a bit, which is noted by a b at the end of a value. Eight bits makes a dollar, which is noted by a d after the value. Some liberal wizards still use the muggle symbol of a vertically slashed "s" ($)

Thus Three dollars, five bits and three and one-half pence would read like this: 3d5b3p1h. Also correct would be: 3d66p.


Less common, but still often seen:

Two and a half dollars is a quarter (not to be confused with the muggle quarter, which is roughly equivalent to 1b.) It's use is somewhat archaic. If used at all, the quarter is shown as a q after the value.

Five dollars is a crow. If denoted at all, it will be as an upper-case C after the value.

Ten dollars is an eagle. Its sign is an upper-case E.

Twenty dollars is a double Eagle. There is no formal way to denote a twenty, it is most commonly 20d, or 2E.

Coin is minted in 25, 50, 100 dollar denominations, and each are noted the same way a single dollar is.



Bills are seldom issued, and only then by individual banks, to be used according to their own rules. More commonly a draft is issued for amounts much larger than a few hundred dollars.

A sample draft reads:

(date) (Name of bank, and branch if there are more than one)
Please pay unto (name of payee), the sum of (payment amount, in words), upon demand.
(Signature of account holder or responsible parties)

(Seal)

Every witch and wizard has a seal once they come of age. A traditional sixteenth birthday present is the seal-it is one of the milestones of "growing up." If they don't have one made for them, they can use their want to put an indelible and unique "seal" to the document. Forgeries have taken place, but as forging a magical seal is so difficult, they are rare, and usually more bother than they are worth.