Ferry Tokens

A bit of treasure and window dressing for fantasy campaigns:

Among some faiths and funerary traditions it is a common (even essential) practice to send the loved one off to the afterworld with a pari of coins (often places upon the eyes of the corpse) to pay the ferryman in the afterlife.

Grave robbers being the filth and scum they are do of course find themselves drawn to these coins. The faithful need not fret that their loved ones are doomed to be stranded on the gray banks of the river styx because of the depredations of a callous graverobber. Many temples sell Ferry Tokens which are easily identified as the funerary objects that they are as they often bear devices of the temple they were purchased from and a death's head or ferryman engraved on the other face.

Common Purchase (not resale) prices for Ferry Tokens(by the pair):

Lead Ferry Tokens...................4 c.p.
Brass Ferry Tokens...................5 c.p.
Pewter Ferry Tokens...............6 c.p.
Bronze Ferry Tokens..............8 c.p.
Gilt Ferry Tokens.....................3 s.p.
Silver Ferry Tokens....................5 s.p.
Norium Ferry Tokens.................2 g.p.
Electrum Ferry Tokens...............3 g.p.
Gold Ferry Tokens.......................5 g.p.
Grand Gilt Ferry Tokens.............6 gp
Grand Gold Ferry Tokens..........12 g.p.
Grand Platinum Ferry Tokens...50 g.p.

Notes on token types: Gilt is a gold platted base metal token. Norium is 1/2 or more copper and the remainder nominally gold. A grand Token is large and lavishly decorated with some even bearing tiny gems (which may drive the price and value up).

Possession of a single or pair of Ferry tokens isn't considered evidence of a crime as people often purchase them ahead of time and gift them to others. A person can typically sell a single or pair of Ferry Tokens at the related temple for 1/3 normal price. In places where it isn't illegal they may be often purchased by individuals at 1/2 normal price. Sometimes the Ferry Tokens are accepted as gambling/debt markers that are returned when the balance of a loan is paid back.

Attempted sale of multiple Ferry Tokens or ones well outside of the perceived means of an individual may result in the prosecution of the offender. The penalties for grave robbing can be quite serious and offenders can find themselves excommunicated or worse by the church of their faith. The gods may also have their own justice for grave-robbers beyond what would be suffered in the courts of mortal men.