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Im just wondering, but do all the imperial worlds use the same currency? I know that Mars doesn't (or at least the tech priests don't). but does anyone know if the Imperium uses any sort of planet wide currency (kinda like the Euro) ?

Tadhghouze wrote:Im just wondering, but do all the imperial worlds use the same currency? I know that Mars doesn't (or at least the tech priests don't). but does anyone know if the Imperium uses any sort of planet wide currency (kinda like the Euro) ?

The Calixis Sector from Fantasy Flight Games uses Throne Gelt (abbreviated as Thrones) as a sector wide currency. However there is no indication of an Imperium wide currency, only local currencies. The Administratum exacts its tithes directly in raw materials and manpower, not cash.

This materials based taxation makes sense when one considers the Imperium's communications are unreliable and not constant enough to support creation of a unified currency and economic zone across so many disparate worlds. Also, a ton of wheat is a ton of wheat and sustain a human the same amount of time no matter where they might be. They have inherent value, whereas currencies, particularly any attempt at fiat or electronic currencies, have value only when people believe they have value.

It probably varies from sector to sector (if not world to world in some cases) for simplicity's sake. Think of it like different countries on a larger scale.

Abnett refers to 'Imperial coins' in his Eisenhorn book Malleus and FFG, as Iracundus says, refers to coinage as Throne Gelt. I'm with n0t_u on this one, probably all sorts of various names & materials used for coinage

Aquila coins are mentioned in one HH book

Necromunda uses Guild Credits.

So short answer, no universal currency, just a bunch of different sector, planetary, or even national currencies in a big mess. Tithes and long-range trading can be conducted directly in goods.

Another money related question:

Do Imperial guardsmen receive some sort of compensation for their service? There are quite a few notes to this in the Ghaunts Ghosts series where they can spend in on stuff onboard the ship during transit and in R&R... but I never heard about that currency reffered to by name.
And as guardsmen receive it quite possible from the munitorium it stands to reason that this currency is the same everywhere.

Different worlds use diffferent currencies.

Imperial credits

Throne Gelt (or Thrones) are the standard currency. This currency does not have to be adopted by all planets, but is adopted by most.

IT's not just FFG that refers to Throne Gelt. The Cain books also refer to it as Thrones.

Bouregard wrote:Another money related question:
Do Imperial guardsmen receive some sort of compensation for their service?

This kind of "detail questions" will likely not evoke a uniform reply, as the franchise doesn't follow a consistent canon, with every author basically being allowed to make up what they want (as long as they stick to the core themes of the setting) regardless of what someone else has written before them.

Personally, I favour the idea of "Imperial scrip" as a means to pay members of the Imperial forces - something I've read in the novels from James Swallow. The basic idea is a paper voucher that the soldier can use it on any Imperial world (so basically the only uniform currency of the Imperium) and that the merchants are basically forced by law to accept these vouchers as payment, but they can in turn go to their world's governmental palace to exchange them for local tender at the Administratum bureau.
It doesn't go into detail, but I imagine these vouchers may not contain an exact currency value, but rather some abstract good such as "1/2 hot meal" or "1 night's stay". This would avoid the economical issues mentioned by Iracundus.

The whole thing has a real world equivalent, by the way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip

Note that this isn't exactly a "pay" or "compensation" for the Guardsmen's service, but rather a bonus they can spend when on leave or being off-duty. Guardsmen do not receive payment for their service as their service is considered "paying off humanity's debt to the Emperor".
The greatest reward for a veteran Guardsman would be the allowance to settle down with his regiment on a newly conquered world to form part of the new citizenry.