The coin was unnaturally light, as if it had no weight at all. Its surface was made of some bone-like material, smooth to the touch yet carrying a faintly unpleasant chill.
On the face of the coin were etched twining thorn patterns, and from the depths of the lines there seemed to seep a layer of extremely faint golden halo.
Seldon picked one up and slowly rolled it between his fingertips.
He knew very well what this was—a bad coin.
This kind of thing could not circulate anywhere outside the districts under the Church Court's control. It was just a heap of scrap metal—no, not even worthy of being called scrap metal.
Reason issued a clear warning at that moment.
This was a trap; this was the Church Court using another system to replace the Empire's monetary arteries.
Once accepted, it would mean abandoning control over prices, circulation, and settlement.
Seldon closed his eyes for a moment.
