 | For a overview of currency in all Fallout games, see Currency. |
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 | This is a lore summary, presenting intradiegetic or in-universe information about the subject. For game characteristics and similar data, consult the table on the right. |
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Legion coinage or Legion money is a type of currency in Fallout: New Vegas produced by Caesar's Legion.
Background
Caesar's Legion uses two types of coinage, the denarius and aureus, as their main form of currency. They are presumably named after the Roman coins of the same names. They are minted by the Legion from scavenged[1] silver and gold, with each coin bearing the profile of Caesar. Despite Caesar's poor relations with the other factions in New Vegas, Legion currency is still accepted as payment in the Mojave Wasteland, even from NCR merchants, owing to the precious metals the denarius and aureus are minted from. The exchange rate is 4 bottle caps to 1 denarius, and 100 bottle caps to 1 aureus.
Denominations
Legion denarius
The denarius (silver), which bears an image of a younger Caesar on the obverse and Caesar, Joshua Graham and Bill Calhoun on the reverse. The inscriptions are in Latin, "Caesar Dictator" meaning "Dictator Caesar" or "Absolute Ruler Caesar" on the front and "Magnum Chasma" meaning "Great Abyss" or "Great Fissure" on the back, referring to the Grand Canyon. The symbolism is simple - the denarius commemorates young Caesar's journey to the Canyon and his first victories as a dictator of the Grand Canyon tribes.
- For the mangled version found in Fallout: New Vegas, see: Legion denarius, mangled.
Legion aureus
The aureus (gold), which bears the portrait of the older Caesar on one side and the symbol of the 10th Legion (the bull) on the other. The inscriptions are in Latin, "Aeternit Imperi" meaning "For the eternity of the empire" on the front and "Pax Per Bellum" meaning "Peace through War" on the back.
Legion double aureus
When post-endgame play for Fallout: New Vegas was being considered, J.E. Sawyer intended for the Legion to mint a commemorative double aureus featuring a depiction of a conquered General Lee Oliver on the front and a symbolism for the Courier. The idea for the coin is inspired by the Vercingetorix denarii minted by Julius Caesar after his victory over the Gauls.[2]
Behind the scenes
Side note: in the olden days when we planned to support post-Hoover play, I did want to introduce two new forms of currency in the event that the player supported an NCR or Legion victory: an NCR $500 bill with either President Kimball or Chief Hanlon on it, depending on the ending, and something commemorating the Courier on the back, also a Legion double aureus (worth 200 caps) commemorating the Courier on the back and conquered General Oliver on the front (in the style of Vercingetorix on Roman coins following Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul).
”Yes. One of the things I wanted for post-Hoover play (that never happened, obviously) was an actual double aureus coin in the game with General Oliver's face on one side and something symbolizing the Courier on the back, in the spirit of the conquered Vercingetorix coins minted to celebrate Julius Caesar's victories in Gaul.
”- Both of the above quotes come from J.E. Sawyer (source #1, source #2)
Both the denarius and aureus were a form of Roman currency used during the time of the Roman Empire, with the aureus being valued at 25 silver denarii.
Gallery
A single denarius in-game.
A single aureus in-game.
References
- ↑ "Gold and silver have low melting points. They don't need to mine for it if they find it in some other form." - J.E. Sawyer, src
- ↑ "Side note: in the olden days when we planned to support post-Hoover play, I did want to introduce two new forms of currency in the event that the player supported an NCR or Legion victory: an NCR $500 bill with either President Kimball or Chief Hanlon on it, depending on the ending, and something commemorating the Courier on the back, also a Legion double aureus (worth 200 caps) commemorating the Courier on the back and conquered General Oliver on the front (in the style of Vercingetorix on Roman coins following Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul)." --J.E. Sawyer, src
