Monetary Systems

	A 50-shaboozie bill, bearing the portrait of Prince Nevarhas Bin-Broak.

Money is the heart of business and trade. Several monetary systems exist in TaleSpin, from ordinary currency like dollar bills to foreign currencies like shaboozies and torbits. Knowing the different kinds of monetary systems, as well as their value and where they are used, is important to doing business transactions in the international marketplace of the TaleSpin world.

Guilders — The guilder is a type of currency used in "old world" countries and their colonies. One guilder is worth an estimated $1.50. They are a well-established monetary system throughout much of the world, and the conversion of dollars to guilders and vice-versa is simple in most countries. Outlying colonies such as the desert city of Ghafia also use guilders.

Shaboozies — A popular monetary system used in exotic regions, the shaboozie has a value of approximately 75 cents, or three-quarters of a dollar. Shaboozies are used as currency mainly in small desert countries or locales not yet introduced to the dollar system, where they are as common as dollars are in civilized regions. For this reason, pilots and travelers usually carry both shaboozies and dollars when venturing abroad, using both interchangeably. Shaboozies printed in various countries are distinguished by the portrait of that country's ruler on the front side.

Torbits — Torbits are an ancient, outmoded type of money found in distant regions. An extremely inflationary currency, torbits plummeted in value during the Great War. Today a torbit is worth roughly one hundredth of one cent — 10,000 torbits equal a single Usland dollar! What torbits lack in value they somewhat make up for in volume. For example, 13 million torbits sounds like a fortune to one unfamiliar with torbits. That amount equals roughly $1,300 in Usland currency — still a decent sum. Few kingdoms still use the torbit, but the desert kingdom of Kafusalum bases its economy on torbit currency.

Wubles — The Walla-Walla-Bing-Bang wuble is an extremely valuable form of currency. With an estimated worth of $2.50 in Usland dollars, wubles are widely exchanged among banks, financial firms, and merchants. The value of the wuble is particularly useful to criminals. Criminals or pirates holding people for ransom may demand payment in wubles, as they can easily multiply their profits by exchanging the wubles for dollars in Walla-Walla-Bing-Bang (which also helps cover their tracks).

Other Systems: Numerous other monetary systems see use in other regions of the world, to a lesser degree than the major currencies mentioned above. Ancient gold coins or dubloons fetch a handsome price for their historical value alone, above the worth of the gold itself. Certain currencies have no real worth at all — these include counterfeit bills and so-called "trick coins," like the infamous "monkey face" double-headed coin. Although useful as practical jokes, trick coins have no intrinsic value — although native tribes or extremely gullible individuals may be unable to tell the difference.

A notorious "monkey's face" trick coin. Such coins do not count as real currency and are worthless.

Monetary Conversion Table

The following table compares the major monetary systems in TaleSpin. It lists each type of currency, the place(s) where it is used, and its approximate value in Usland dollars. Because dollars are used as a base system, this chart is especially helpful in making conversions between monetary systems.

To convert foreign currency to dollars, multiply the amount (e.g., 50,000 shaboozies) by the dollar value (.75 dollars) to get the dollar amount.

To convert dollars to foreign currency, divide the dollar amount by the dollar value of the respective currency.