Editing Currency (section)

== Trade Currencies ==
Over the years players have used a variety of in game items as currency to trade amongst themselves. For the most part these items have had great intrinsic worth, similar to gold in the real world. However some items have continued to be used as currency after their worth as a usable item has declined because they are rare. There have been differences across servers both in the items used and in their relative value.

While there are many items might be traded, the list below reflects items that were universally accepted in trading (or nearly so), and enjoyed at least many months if not years of wide spread use amongst players.

=== {{Icon|Trade Note (50,000)}} Trade Note (50,000) ===
The D note was the first large note to be used regularly for trading or for services (such as requesting a portal to subway or Qalaba'r).

=== {{Icon|Pyreal Mote}} Pyreal Motes ===
Dropped by various types of [[Golem]], Pyreal Motes appeared in the first year of AC and were initially used in the creation of the once powerful and much sought-after [[Atlan Weapons]] - making them a popular trade currency.

Motes are now mainly used in the forging of the improved, and more widely used, [[Isparian Weapons]], as well as in the creation of [[Alchemy Gems]].

=== {{Icon|Small Shard}} Small Shards ===
Widely used currency in the first two years of AC due to the popularity of [[Shadow Armor Quest|Shadow Armor]] built by the Armor Smiths. The armor was crafted after fusing crystal shards such as [[Small Shard]]s together and combining the result with Shadow Fragments.
<br>While the armor is no longer sought after, the shards are now used for the [[Asheron's Tower Guardian]] quest which rewards good xp and an Aegis shield with decent AL.

=== {{Icon|Sturdy Iron Key}} Sturdy Iron Keys ===
Sturdy Iron Keys or SIKs for short are used to unlock two types of chest: [[Sturdy Iron Chest]]s and [[Steel Chest]]s. Sturdy Iron Chests -- once dubbed "Uber Chests" because of the top tier loot contained within -- now only contain lower tier 4 [[Loot]] while the latter Steel Chests contain spell scrolls and are still used by mages to find their needed Wall and Ring [[Spells]]. The SIK chests can be found all over Dereth in various dungeons and points of interest. The steel chests, however, only appear randomly on the [[Direlands]] landscape.

=== {{Icon|Singularity Key}} Singularity Keys ===
Used to unlock [[Singularity Trove]]s which once used to contain top tier [[Loot]]. Changes to the loot tiers and the introduction of new treasure chests have resulted in the keys no longer being a form of currency. Singularity keys are now mainly used in the [[Major Prismatic Stone Quest]] and uncarved [[Virindi Singularity Key]]s can be given to [[Aun Mareura the Collector]] for some rewards.

=== {{Icon|Sturdy Steel Key}} Sturdy Steel Keys ===
Also known as SSKs for short, Sturdy Steel Keys are used to unlock the [[Sturdy Steel Chest]]s found only in the [[West Direlands]] as a random spawn and in a few other fixed locations.

While the keys are not currently used as a trade currency, the steel chests contain tier 6 [[Loot]] (7 being top tier). The chests are also slightly different to standard chests in that each chest pull has the chance to have 0-2 [[Runed Weapons|Princely Runed]] and/or [[Runed Weapons|Royal Runed Weapons]].

These weapons can be very useful and are only restricted by level (100+ for princely, 120+ for royal). The weapons randomly cast [[Gossamer Flesh]] on hits while the magic casters cast [[Futility]] with a decent [[Spellcraft]]. As of the the [[Shifting Tactics]] event, any unneeded [[Runed Weapons]] can now be given in for up to 10 million xp.

=== {{Icon|Trade Note (250,000)}} Trade Note (250,000) ===
Before MMDs were intoduced, M notes were the common currency among players. But, in July 2002, MMDs became the popular currency and still continue to be in use to the present day. Turbine has added several [[wikipedia:Gold sink|money sinks]] to help remove excess MMDs, including [[Casino]]s, [[Tailoring]], [[Rare Exchanger]], [[Component Exchanger]], [[Spell Components]], and [[Grenades]].

In the [[Shedding Skin]] patch the loot profiles of many indoor creatures was altered to allow the addition of [[Aetheria]], a side effect of this change was Turbine fixed a long standing issue where these creatures dropped a level of scarab peas that was never intended. Many players used these as a source of income and complained loudly about the large decline in the number of MMDs they could earn.

=== {{Icon|Marble Key}} {{Icon|Granite Key}} Marble and Granite Keys ===
Used when the [[Valley of Death]] was the place to go for advanced players. Creatures in VoD were high health, high xp and dropped twisted and mangled pieces that could be repaired to form chest keys. The Reinforced Mahogany and Oaken chests that the keys unlocked were also found in the valley and contained loot useful to the types of characters that could hunt there.

=== {{Icon|Tier 1 Rares}} {{Icon|Tier 2 Rares}} Rare Gems ===
Tier 1 and 2 rare gems are the most common rares to drop and even the lowest level characters can find them on defeated creatures. However, some rares are more useful than others and as such can be sold for many more MMDs. This includes rares that raise the defensive skills, tinkering skills and a few others.

Due to the introduction of the [[Rare Exchanger]], players can now gamble the less sought-after rares for better gems and even a chance at a [[Grand Casino Key]]. It should be noted, however, that it's a gamble and the cost is 2 MMDs per go.

=== {{Icon|Mana Forge Key}} Mana Forge Keys ===
Used to open up [[Mana Forge#Mana Forge Chests|Mana Forge Chests]] that hold Tier 7 Loot and VIII spell components.

=== {{Icon|Grand Casino Key}} Grand Casino Key ===
Used to unlock the [[Grand Casino Chest]]s, the GCKs are acquired mostly through [[Gambling]] and a few quests. Like the [[Mana Forge]]s, the grand chests can generate tier 7 [[Loot]] but they can also contain the next lower tier also. However, unlike the Mana Forges, they contain other useful items such as [[#Alternative Currencies|Alt. Currencies]], [[Luminance]] Gems, Foolproof salvage and even MFKs.

Although the keys are [[Attuned]] and [[Bonded]] and cannot be given, players have been known to sell "pulls" to the grand chest. The keys are also found attached to the giveable [[Grand Casino Golden Keyring]] acquired as a rare or obtained with a [[Writ of Apology]].
[[Category:Currency Items]]