Getting Paid...Sci-Fi Currency Style

Currency and trading becomes the basis for most good economies, including fictional movie storylines. Most of our favorite tv shows, books, movies, and games have a currency that they used to better tell the story. If Mike Judge taught us anything with Idiocracy - it's that people like sex and money. Since only the latter is appropriate here, we'll focus on that in our entertainment.

With the steady dive of the Dollar, the future of the US monetary system seems uncertain. But don't fear! Regardless of whether the economy is booming or busting, there is always entertainment to keep us happy. We can all dream of accumulating, credits or whuffie in our post-modern post-death future world, or gambling cubits with Starbuck. Let's take a look into the future and check out some of our favorite fictional currencies.

Let's just hope we don't all end up using an evil unified federation currency under Anakin Skywalker and Jar Jar Binks. Without further ado - 130 Science Fiction Currencies in no particular order from some of our favorite tv shows, books, movies, and games.

Table of Contents

TV Shows

1. Cubit - Battlestar Galactica

A cubit is more than just "Battlestar Galactica's" unit of currency. As I just learned from a wikipedia search, it's also:

A cubit is the first recorded unit of length and was one of many different standards of measurement used through history. It is based on measuring by comparing to one's forearm length.

Now I don't know much about "Battlestar Galactica," but how cool is it that the writers dropped a biblical reference IN OUTER SPACE? I wonder if they snuck any more in there...

2. Smartmoney - Earth: Final Conflict

Produced in Canada from notes discovered after Gene Roddenberry's death, "Earth: Final Conflict" was about a race of aliens who arrive on Earth and use their advanced technology to end disease, pollution, and war in exchange for asylum. But I think the real smart money is on nobody remembering this show.

3. Venusian Currency - The Jetsons

The more things change, the more they stay the same. At least, in the future of 1961. As the opening titles will attest, Janehiswife was a bit of a shopaholic, and in one of the more finance-centric episodes of The Jetsons, it comes back to bite Old Georgey. Jeffrey A. Tucker's excellent article from Libertarian freemartketeer site LewRockwell.com expains:

...George is feeling a financial pinch because his son wants to go to spaceball camp and his daughter needs a new gown for the prom. Meanwhile, his wife is stepping up her usual spending habits. George begins to moonlight as a taxidriver and is nearly fired from his day job (again!) for doing so. Fortunately he wins the Venus lottery (in currency units valued at 75 cents on the dollar), but unfortunately his family then goes on a wild spending spree even before the payoff arrives. Meanwhile, his company Spacely Sprockets is faced with a takeover attempt by some corporate raiders from Venus, which is apparently enjoying economic boom times. Mr. Spacely appeals to George to help him buy more stock to keep the company from falling into Venusian hands. The plot thickens in every which way until the devastating news arrives that Venus's economy has collapsed and the currency has been devalued. It is now worth a tenth of a penny on the dollar. The takeover attempt is held back but George is now faced with a mountain of debt. The whole story of the inflated Venusian currency sounds like Argentina today!

But Mr. Tucker overlooks one thing. Any nation with flying cars and anti-gravity jetpacks would never have to worry about the economy, on account of its booming tourism industry. Picture it, if you will.

MOM: Hey, Hon? I was thinking that after the kids get out of school for the summer, we could go visit my parents in Charlotte.

DAD: Sounds good, dear.

MOM: Really? Great, then I'll look on Orbitz for --

DAD: HAHAHAHAHA! OMIGOD, I THOUGHT YOU WERE KIDDING! NO! NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHARLOTTE TO SEE YOUR NIT-WIT PARENTS! WE'RE GOING TO THE TROPICAL COUNTRY WITH THE ANTI-GRAVITY JET-PACKS!!!

4. Grotznit - The Mysterious Planet/Dragonfire

Though most of the Dr. Who series dealt in credits, the two serials "The Mysterious Planet" and "Dragonfire" used the parochial grotznits. Why? That's a good question, and one I'd answer if I'd ever seen an episode of "Doctor Who."

5. Narg - The Two Doctors

They say that giving birth is more painful than being kicked in the nargs, but I don't believe it.

6. Zeni - Dragonball Z

Dragonballs may be one of the most powerful and valuable objects in the universe, but Goku and Co. wouldn't have gotten anywhere without zeni. You'd think that with all this cash on hand, they could afford some new backgrounds.

7. Credits - Firefly

I know I risk getting myself kicked off the internet by putting Firefly this far down the list, but come on, Joss! You're a creative genius, but the best you can do is Credits?! Way too drop the ball.

8. Dollarpound - Red Dwarf

Not one, but two devalued currencies? It's the best(worst) of both worlds!

9. Yen-Euro-Dollars - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Another catch-all currency. Apparently, in the future, we've run out of creative names for money.

10. Professorland Funbucks - Futurama

"Anthology of Interest" was Futurama's answer to The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror," and in "Anthology of Interest II" the Planet Express crew take on "The Wizard of Oz" in a short called "Wizzin.'" After journeying to the Emerald Laboratory, Zoidberg asks The Professor for courage and receives a gun. Bender steals the gun and demands money, instead receiving Professorland Funbucks. Which, at the current rate of inflation, might be worth more than dollars in the 31st century.

11. Federation Credits - Star Trek

Bla bla bla future, bla bla bla money, bla bla bla credits. Sure, there was the occasional Quatloo and Quark of Deep Space Nine was fond of Gold Pressed Latinum, but come on... you can think up an entire Klingon language but the most imaginative form of money you can conceive of is "Credits?" Way to drop the ball, Roddenberry.

12. Marinaro - Patalliro!

"Patalliro!" is one of the first sh?çnen-ai anime series to hit TV. What's sh?çnen-ai? Glad you asked, because besides being REALLY REALLY WEIRD, Wikipedia says it is:

...a popular term for fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male relationships, created by female authors and intended for female readers.

All of which for some reason reminds me of the new Star Trek. But did I mention that "Patalliro" is weird?

13. Woolongs - Cowboy Bebop

More than just a variety of tea, woolongs are the money earned by the crew of the starship Bebop.

Question - How much woolong does it cost to buy one of those ultra-detailed costumes I see on these vaguely sexy girls at comic-con?

14. Monies - Invader Zim

Zim is an alien invader intent on conquering and/or destoying a dark, satiricial vision of planet Earth. Which, of course, is run by "monies!" Unfortunately, low ratings meant the show didn't make much monies and was cancelled before completing its second season.

15. Double Dollars - Trigun

I'll say this - at first glance, it seems at least twice as valuable as regular dollars...

16. Dollops and Sments - Chowder

Dollops and Sments - the primary currency of Chowder, a twisted cartoon geared towards children and the terminally stoned.

17. Jenny - Hunter X Hunter

Jenny was Hunter X's childhood friend who was abused by her dad, played guitar naked, had a baby Hunter X, and then died. Also, Hunter X founded the Bubba-Hunter X Shrimp Company and named all his boats after her.

18. Dollaryen - The Most Irresponsible Man in Space

I don't know much about it, but "The Most Irresponsible Man in Space" has one of the most hilarious sci-fi titles I've ever come across. It was adapted into an anime series called "The Irresponsible Captain Tylor". Wikipedia's description makes him seem less "irresponsible" and more "borderline retarded."

Lt. Commander Justy Ueki Tylor is a mysterious, irresponsible man. Tylor, age 20, joined the United Planets Space Force for, what he hoped would be, an easy life. Originally assigned to the Pension department, he unwittingly foiled a terrorist plot to kidnap and kill a retired UPSF admiral when he tried to deliver a late check by hand. For saving the war hero's life, Tylor was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and placed in command of the destroyer Soyokaze (the UPSF dumping ground for trouble makers and the unwanted). Tylor has, as his superiors have put it, 'The Devil's own luck' and usually can get out of any situation relatively unscathed, avoiding multiple assassination attempts and defeating enemy groups of vastly superior numbers. He is very laid back and does not really care for the rules, using his authority as captain to change whatever regulations seem too uptight for him. He is also easily led by his crew, who are able to convince him to allow them to wear comfortable clothes on watch, hold a swimsuit competition, and let the surgeon drink while on duty. The UPSF and the Ralgon Empire are constantly debating whether Tylor possesses the most brilliant military mind or whether he is just a lucky moron.

You can judge Captain Tylor's mental state for yourself here:

19. Dollaryen - Gunbuster

More like creativitybuster. Who's more irresponsible - the captain, or the schmuck who copies his currency?

20. Wong - Outlaw Star

"Outlaw Star" is both the title of a long-running anime series about space faring outlaws and the name of their starship. But with the fastest, most advanced ship in the universe at their disposal, you'd think these outlaws wuld have more Wongs than a Chinese phonebook.

HEY-YO!

21. Beri (Berries) - One Piece

"One Piece" is a manga and anime series with the only currency that gives you diahrrea if you have too much of it. Or do berries only effect me that way?

22. Sens - Fullmetal Alchemist

"Fullmetal Alchemist" is a manga series about two brothers who want to restore their bodies after a disatrous alchemical experiment took one's arm and leg and turned the other into some kind of giant stone robot.

Hey, don't ask me. Personally I've never been able to make sens out of it.

OK, that was the last pun. Promise.

23. Kan - Bleach

"Bleach" is an anime series about a young man who gains the abilities of the Grim Reaper. I was never really able to get into it. Kan you?

Ugh. I'm disgusted with myself. This punning... it's like a sickness... Anyone care to host my Puntervention?

24. Hytes and Kules - Mobile Suit Gundam

Hytes and Kules are the currency of the Riah colonies from Gundam 0080. But really, who needs money when you've got a RH-35E Riah 35 Draken-E?

25. Nargs - The Two Doctors

A "Doctor Who" serial, "The Two Doctors" was crossover episode between the Sixth Doctor and the Second Doctor. Which is all I know about it, as I find "Doctor Who" harder to get into than a nun's pants.

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Books

26. Whuffie - Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

Like most utopian futures, "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" is a post-scarcity economy, where all the necessities and luxuries of life are free for the taking. So what's its unit of currency? Meet the Whuffie - a reputation-based money that goes up or down based on people's perception of you. Sort of like Tumblr.

27. Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts - Harry Potter series

In the Harry Potter books, Hagrid says, "The gold ones are Galleons. Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough." Which breaks down to 1 Galleon equaling 17 Sickles or 493 Knuts. The conversion to muggle money isn't quite so simple, but a calculator is available here. The first person to figure out what a year's tuition at Hogwart's costs gets a free prize.

28. Fairy Gold - Artemis Fowl series

Fairy Gold is the titular Artemis Fowl's raison d'etre. The pursuit of gold is why he does what he does in the book series that's been called "'Die Hard' with Fairies." Keep in mind - Fairy Gold is, according to folklore, something that appears to be money when payed out but is soon revealed to be nothing but leaves and not, as has been presupposed, a West Hollywood gay bar.

29. Sequins - Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" Trilogy

Kim Stanley Robinson's hard SF trilogy "Red Mars," "Green Mars," and "Bue Mars" utilized a form of currency called Sequins. Though on Earth, a "sequin" is sometimes a 3.5 gram gold coin, I like to pretend that they trade in whatever falls off Dolly Parton's dress.

30. Air Dollars - H.G. Wells' "The Shape of Things to Come"

Though "The Shape of Things to Come" correctly predicted things like World War II and submarine-launched ballistic missles, Wells missed the mark on Air Dollars. The currency of a benevolent dictatorship ruled by aviators, Air Dollars, contrary to what one might assume, could not be cashed in to upgrade from coach to first class.

31. Crescents - Chronicles of Narnia

Crescents are the currency of choice for C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia." They actually replaced an earlier form of currency, the blood of Azlan's virgin-birthed son.

32. Ankh-Morpork Dollars - Discworld

On Terry Pratchett's Discworld, the city of Ankh-Morpork is London, New York, and Rennaissance-era Florence all wrapped up in one walled city-state. The mercantile capitol of the planet, Ankh-Morpork Dollars are the lifeblood of the city. Although other city-states have their own currencies, they maintain strong links with the dollar, as Ankh-Morpork is the only place which has anything worth buying.

33. Nick - Left Behind

If you think "Chronicles of Narnia" lays it on thick with the Christian allegories, wait 'til you get to "Left Behind," which takes place in a post-Rapture society where the Antichrist has been elected president of the U.N. So every time some whackadoo dingbat says Obama is the devil, now you know where they got the idea. And hey - Is it just me, or is it not too much to ask to expect our world's crazy people to at least be original in their insanity?

34. Kongbucks - Snow Crash

Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" takes place in a future where hyperinflation has devalued the US Dollar to the point that even trillion dollar bills are disregarded and the quadrillion is the most prevalent "small bill." Enter Kongbucks, the currency of Greater Hong Kong and the only non-inflated currency besides the yen. Also, Kongbucks are what you get as store credit in the Donkey Kong Country Gift Shop.*

* - Total Lie.

35. C-Bills - BattleTech

If in the future, C-Bill still means 100 dollars, these enormous BattleMechs can't be all that advanced, can they? I mean... I can't buy a laptop for a hundred bucks, but a few c-bills is all it costs for a 55 ton war machine?

36. Kalganids - Second Foundation

In Asimov's "Foundation" trilogy, Kalgan was a pleasure planet that raked in more cash than any other world. Say it with me now, kids... "KALGAN, TAKE ME AWAY!"

37. Oceanian Dollar - 1984

Let's get all 11th grade english class for a second. In Orwell's 1984, the United States and Great Britain have fused into one enormous totalitarian nation called Oceania. Their money was a combination of the Dollar and Pound. The nerds over at wikipedia say:

It is specifically stated that the 25-cent coin bears the picture of Big Brother on one face and the famous party slogans ("War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength") on the other. Presumably, paper notes for higher denominations also bear Big Brother's picture, but this is not explicitly stated.

Frankly, there's absolutely nothing funny about 1984. I'd rather strap myself into the rat cage-hat then write a joke for this.

38. Marks - Dragon Riders of Pern

A Mark is the denomination of choice for Anne McCaffrey's "Dragon Rider" series. Of course, given the galactic truth at all dentists are named Mark, this means that dentists are the richest people on Pern.

39. Solari - Dune

Even though spice is the most valuable commodity in the Dune universe, they still use Solari as the main form of currency. Melange, or spice, went as high as 620,000 Solaris per decagram. Duke Atreides notes that of every commodity known to mankind, "all fades before melange. A handful of spice will buy a home on Tupile." But be careful - you never know when the Tupile housing market's going to go bust. And don't get me started on the schools...

40. Tik, Agol, Smerduk, and Riik - Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser

Fritz Leiber's seminal sword-and-sorcery series was chock full of two things - homoerotic undertones between Fafhrd the barbarian and Mouser the thief, and currencies. Fafhrd and Mouser were payed in tik (iron,) agol (bronze), smerduk (silver), and rilk (gold.) Basically, they take everything but the Discover card.

41. Ozol - Alastor series

Ozol is the unit of money in Jack Vance's "Alastor" series of books. The best way to earn Ozol is in Hussade, an American Gladiators-like game involving denuding beautiful virgins, natch. The book describes it as:

The hussade field is a gridiron of 'runs' (also called 'ways') and ‘laterals' above a tank of water four feet deep. The runs are nine feet apart, the laterals twelve feet. Trapezes permit the players to swing sideways from run to run, but not from lateral to lateral. The central moat is eight feet wide and can be passed at either end, at the center, or jumped if the player is sufficiently agile. The 'home' tanks at either end of the field flank the platform on which stands the sheirl.The sheirl stands on her platform at the end of the field between the home tanks. She wears a white gown with a gold ring at the front. The enemy players seek to lay hold of this gold ring; a single pull denudes the sheirl. The dignity of the sheirl may be ransomed by her captain for five hundred ozols, a thousand, two thousand, or higher, in accordance with a prearranged schedule. Players buff or body-block opposing players into the tanks, but may not use their hands to push, pull, hold, or tackle. The captain of each team carries the 'hange' - a bulb on a three-foot pedestal. When the light glows the captain may not be attacked, nor may he attack. When he moves six feet from the hange, or when he lifts the hange to shift his position, the light goes dead; he may then attack and be attacked. An extremely strong captain may almost ignore his hange; a captain less able stations himself on a key junction, which he is then able to protect by virtue of his impregnability within the area of the live hange.

OK. Hussade now joins Hockey under the category "Sports I wish I could watch on TV."

42. Altarian Dollar - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

42 - besides being the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything, is also Douglas Adams' deranged masterwork "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," the main unit of currency is the Altarian Dollar, followed closely by the Flainian Pibble Bead and the Triganic Pu. However, none of them are very useful. The "Hitchhiker's Guide" wikia tells us:

The Altarian Dollar has recently collapsed, the Flainian Pobble Bead is only exchangeble for other Flainian Pobble Beads, and the Triganic Pu has its own very special problems. Its exchange rate of eight Ningis to one Pu is simple enough, but since a Ningi is a triangular rubber coin six thousand eight hundred miles along each side, no one has ever collected enough to own one Pu. Ningis are not negotiable currency, because the Galactibanks refuse to deal in fiddling small change. From this basic premise it is very simple to prove that the Galactibanks are also the product of a deranged imagination.

Now let's take a moment and realize just how close wikis are to actual guides to hitchhiking around the universe.

...

OK, moment's passed.

43. Fretzers - Frritt-Flacc

Jules Verne's "Frritt-Flacc" tells the story of a wealthy doctor who only works for the very rich, who pay him in Fretzers. While sleeping through a hurricane, which gives us the titular "Frritt" sound of wind and "Flacc" of rain, Dr. Trifulgas is awakened time and again by people needing his medical skills. All but one are too poor to afford him. When one woman does have enough Fretzers, she leads the doctor to her house only to discover... THAT IT IS THE DOCTOR HIMSELF LYING IN BED DYING!

Cue the soap opera organ music. And no, I don't feel bad about giving away the ending. This story was published in 1884, so it's comfortably out of the Spoiler Alert Statute of Limitations.

44. Ool - Dance of Gods

45. Swiss Franc - High Justice series

Of all the countries that issued francs, Switzerland is the only one that hasn't converted to Euros. Apparently, Switzerland keeps it that way well into the future of "High Justice." The book is full of other fun, nigh-radical right wing ideas like environmentalism, welfare, high taxes, and trade unions impeding technological progress and agents of giant multinational conglomerates cast as literary heroes.

46. S.V.U. (Standard Value Units) - Demon Princes

No fancy names, just the cold clinical fact. Standard Value Unit. Has a nice ring to it. Wikipedia provides some details:

Buying power of the SVU appears to be roughly on a par with the United States dollar or English pound sterling of the 1960s and 1970s; alcoholic beverages may cost less than one SVU, a luxury meal twenty or thirty; minor officials may be effectively bribed for fifty SVU, more senior ones requiring hundreds or thousands according to the nature of the enterprise being suborned.

So there you go. You now know how many SVUs it takes to bribe a senior governmental official. Don't say I never did anything for you.

47.Marks - Vorkosigan Saga

Eh... not a fan. I'm a strictly non-marking soul.

48. Credits and Dollars - Rim World

Rim?!

HAHAHAHAHA IT'S SUCH A DIRTY SOUNDING WORLD LOLZLOLZLOLZLOLZ

49. Hong Kong Luna Dollar - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

The Hong Kong Luna Dollar is the currency of Earth's moon colony in... PFFFFF!

I'M SORRY!

I TRIED TO CONTAIN MYSELF, BUT....

RIM!

Hahahahahaha!

50. Fuseodollars - The Night's Dawn Trilogy

Peter F. Hamilton's "The Night's Dawn" trilogy details a distant future where a space-exploring human race fights against past souls reenteing the world via posession. So it's kind of like DC's new Blackest Night mini, only without the zombified Aquaman.

And really, can't all book series use a zombified Aquaman?

51. Credits - What Mad Universe

I know I've crapped on credits quite a bit here, but the wikipedia page for What Mad Universe actually makes it seem kind of cool.

Synopsis Keith Winton is a journalist for a science-fiction review. With his glamorous co-worker girlfriend, Betty, he visits his friends one day in their elegant estate in the Catskills, unfortunately, as we'll find out, on the same day as an experimental rocket is to be launched. Betty has to go back to New York. Keith is alone in his friends' garden, deep in thought, when, suddenly, the engine of the rocket (whose launch has been a failure) crashes and explodes upon his friends' residence, taking him to a strange but deceptively similar parallel universe. Wild-eyed and astray, Keith is astonished to see how credits have replaced dollars; is amazed when he encounters some scantily-clad pin-up girls who are, at the same time, astronauts; is driven to stupor when he encounters his first Arcturian. But it is when he tries to get back to his usual world when he finally understands his problem, if not the solution. Style What Mad Universe is full of humour, mostly stemming from the description of the culture shock that the protagonist feels, and the strange things that are in the universe, like knitting machines that open the way for a voyage in space. A half-serious, half-humorous take on modern society and the reality of our world, its light-hearted style would be built on by subsequent books, most notably his 1955 work, Martians, Go Home.

52. Auric - The Domination of Draka

The Auric is the gold-backed currency of S.M. Stirling's dystopic "The Domincation of Draka" series. It's also the first name of the titular villain of "Goldfinger." Which is a fact I include just for the excuse to link to this video:

Gold....FINGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

53. New Yen - "Sprawl" stories

New Yen? What's wrong with the old Yen? You kids today with your video games and music television and New Yen...rasslefrasslegrassum....

54. Stellars and Minims - Citizens of the Galaxy

Heinlein's "Cititzens of the Galaxy" was published in 1957, and for a young-adult book made bold statements about the civil rights struggle. There are ten Minims in a Stellar, and "Citizens of the Galaxy" details the adventures of Thorby, a young slave boy purchased for just nine Minims and thrust into a galactic struggle for freedom. It goes beyond simply deciding slavery as racism and instead makes the more difficult case that slavery is a violation of inalienable personal rights. If you want to give it a read, the entire text is available free online (but hurry - who knows how long that will last.)

55. Crowns - Inheritance Trilogy

The Inheritance Trilogy details a future where United States Space Marines fight aliens and trade in Crowns. Just like Doom. Only with Crowns.

56. Crowns - Known Space

Don't worry, we're not being repetitive. The crowns in Inheritance Trilogy are coins. The crowns in Known Space? Actual bejeweled hats worn by royalty.

57. Days - Strata

Strata? Whatta?

Days are the unit of currency from a Terry Pratchett book I've never heard of called "Strata." Again, the virgins at Wikipedia come to the rescue:

One Day is the amount of money that will buy you the rejuvenation treatment needed to increase your lifespan by one day.

Sure, "Strata's" no "Star Trek" or "Firefly,' but seriously. If you can read that explanation and not want to run and pick up a copy of that book, then what the hell are you doing all the way down here? Did you read through all those sci-fi currencies without having an actual interest in the subject? Wow. Way to waste both our times.

Movies

58. Credits - Total Recall

I wonder how many credits it costs to go to Mars for two weeks... two weeks... two... weeks...

59. Imperial Credits - Star Wars

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas was too busy having his poo bronzed to think up a more creative money than "Credits."

To be fair, various planets do have their own forms of currency like the Adumari credcoin, Alliance Credit, Authority Cash Voucher, Cred stick, Credit chip, Credit chit, Crystalline vertex, Drallish crown, Driit, Druggat, Galactic Credit Standard, Galactic Moon Coin, Ithorian currency, Karsem, Keshel, Meatlump, Mesarc, Military scrip, Novian ruby, Peggat, Perats, Trugut, Wupiupi.

And then there's Jabba the Hutt's favorite money, the creepy frog-thing.

60. Spacebucks - Spaceballs

The most valuable object in Spaceballs is obviously canned oxygen. The second most valuable object - Spacebucks, for which Lonestar is happy to transport a princess who doesn't look druish.

61. Dirt - Waterworld

I was going to put in a clip of Kevin Costner screaming that "Dry Land is not a myth!" But I couldn't find it, so here's a fat guy saying it in the shower.

62. Anti-Money - The Adventures of Pluto Nash

Okay, I don't really know what they called the money in Pluto Nash. All I know is that they didn't make any. For a movie that cost $120 million, it brought in less than nine. But with this hysterical trailer, what could have gone wrong?

63. Creds - Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd paid for his seemingly never-ending supply of ammo in creds. I wonder if he wrote those off on his taxes? It's nice to get a few creds back at the end of the year.

64. I dunno. Aliens? Robots? Wasn't very clear - A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Seriously. Why does Anthony Hopkins look like an Imac?

65. Barcodes - Idiocracy

In Mike Judge's underrated "Idiocracy," Maya Rudolph and Luke Wilson awake from a 500-year hibernation study into a world populated by the dumbest, fattest, and laziest among us. Money is debited from accounts by scanning barcodes on people's wrists. And they really like farts.

66. Water - Ice Pirates

Any trailer that advertises "Depravity in Zero Gravity" has me hooked.

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Games

67. Bottlecaps - Fallout

Bottlecaps serve as currency in the post-apocalyptic video game "Fallout." Just like they served as poker chips on my college poker night, which usually followed drink-beer-til-you-spew-but-be-sure-to-save-the-caps night.

68. Sovereigns - Knights of Xentar

"Knights of Xentar" is included not because it used a notable currency, but because when I was a kid a friend of mine downloaded it off a warez site without realizing it was a heavily pornographic RPG. Believe it or not, that picture up there is from the censored version.

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who are aware of video games where you rescue the princess and then have explicit sex with her, and those who aren't. Once you fall into the former category, there's no going back to the latter. And it happened to me when I was 11.

69. Nuyen - Shadowrun

"Shadowrun" is difficult to define. Was it too geeky to be cool, or too cool to be geeky? Either way, it takes place in a cyberpunk future where, thanks to the end of the Mayan calendar, magic has returned to a world run by shadowy mega-corporations. These companies employ mercenaries called Shadowrunners to sabotage eachother, whom they pay in Nuyen.

70. Buckazoid - Space Quest

Another blast from the past from the future, Space Quest was released during what is, for my present-day money, the golden age of video games. Not packed with action, true, but the deep and hysterical storyline more than made up for it. Published by Sierra during the height of their point-and-click adventure days, you play as Roger Wilco, space janitor. But there are better ways to rake in the buckazoids then by swabbing spacedecks, and Roger usually manages to take charge of his own ship. He navigates the cosmos, stumbling from one planet to another, spoofing science fiction franchises along the way.

Did I mention that thanks to a transporter accident, one high ranking officer has a butt for a face? His name -- you guessed it -- REAR ADMIRAL. Come on! How have they not remade this game yet?

71. Gold - World of Warcraft

Like most MMORPGs, gold in World of Warcraft is gained by opening treasure chests, slaying monsters, and paying off bare-chested, chain-smoking Chinese people.

72. Gil - Final Fantasy

Are they heroes? Are they strippers? Your guess is as good as mine.

Gil is the unit of currency these sexy guys pick up by winning battles in the Final Fantasy franchise. Which always begs the question, "Why do monsters carry around so much cash?"

73. Munny - Kingdom Hearts

You might think that a Square-Enix RPG starring classic Disney characters wouldn't work. Well, you'd be right. But if you have an overpowering drive to play as a 14-year-old with an unlimited supply of hair gel who teams up with Donald Duck and Goofy to rescue Mickey Mouse, you won't get very far without Munny. Or decent drugs.

74. Rupees - The Legend of Zelda

Rupees are those little glowing diamond thingies that Link picks up to feed his kingdom-saving habit. They come in various colorful denominations. Fun fact: Apparently, Hyrule shares the same currency as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

75. Rings - Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic's penchant for collecting rings is just one of the 9 ways that he's like an Italian grandmother*.

*Think you know the other 8? Drop some knowledge in our comments.

76. Tiberium - Command and Conquer

Tiberium is an alien mineral that is both a resource and weapon in the "Command and Conquer" series. The crystals are used to purchase new units and buildings, and are frequently battled over in-game. Also, Tiberium is toxic to living creatures - just like real money.

77. Simoleons - The Sims

Simoleons are what you use in "The Sims" to buy things to keep your virtual family happy. Think of it as imaginary money you make when you should be out earning real money.

78. Bolts - Mega Man 7

In "Mega Man 7," our old friend Mega collects bolts while fighting the evil Robot Masters and uses them to have his ally Auto create upgrades for him. Think of it like a stripper who uses those sweaty fivers you cram into her g-string on plastic surgery to increase her tips. It's a vicious, vicious cycle... especially considering that Mega Man never did use those bolts to go back to school.

79. Bison Dollar - Street Fighter

Street Fighters use every cent of the Bison Dollar.

80. PED (Project Entropia Dollar) - Entropia Universe

You know what I hate about Project Entropia Dollars? No other project will accept them! It's like having store credit or confederate money.

81. Ptas - Resident Evil 4

"Resident Evil 4" is about a US government agent fighting zombies while searching for the President's daughter... who doesn't get payed in American dollars? Isn't that treason? Why not just take Euros?

82. Goth - Ogre Battle Series

In the video game series "Ogre Battle," money is called Goth and is gained by defeating monsters. Of course in the real world, all you have to do is ask a teenage suburbanite to learn that the easiest way to get Goth is to go to the mall.

83. Funds Advance Wars

How advanced can these wars really be if they're using "funds"? Why not "megafunds" or "Advancefunds" "dollaryenfundcreds"?

84. Pearls - Beyond Good and Evil

Pearls are the main currency of the video game "Beyond Good And Evil." SPOILER ALERT: The best place to find them is anywhere before swine.

85. Gilda - Dark Cloud

'Nuf Said.

86. Space Credit - F-Zero

You see, Firefly? SPACE credit! WAS THAT SO HARD?

87.Zenny - Mega Man Legends

In the world of Mega Man Legends, money is called Zenny, named after Mega Man's childhood friend who was abused by her dad and...

Wait. I already did a Forest Gump joke? Like a hundred currencies ago?

FML.

88. cR - Halo

cR is the currency of the Halo universe. Not that it matters much, considering that Halo is more shooting then shopping. More decapitating than decapitalizing. More ka-pow than ka-ching. Still, if you want to know how much cR it costs to blow up all those aliens, check out Halopedia.

89. Dil - 2Moons

It's a free MMORPG from Acclaim and its money sounds like pickles? IN FOR 3.

90. Bell - Animal Crossing

Bells are the unit of currency in Nintendo's "Animal Crossing" series. As a matter of fact, the first thing that happens in the game is someone gives you a house with a mortgage of 19,800 bells. That mortgage, of course, is promptly bundled with others and sliced up for sale to investors from the Mushroom Kingdom, setting up a console-wide economic collapse.

91. Tokkul - RuneScape

RuneScape - holder of the Guiness Book World Record for most popular free MMORPG - utilizes a form of cash called Tokkul. The RuneScape wiki explains:

Tokkul is the only currency of the TzHaar people residing in the underground TzHaar City. It is made from obsidian, a volcanic glass; it cannot be created by players. Tokkul is sometimes referred to as TokKul by some of the NPCs in the city. Apparently, Tokkul is made out of corpses of the TzHaar, as said in a Postbag from the Hedge letter. This is the reason why you cannot trade Tokkul with other players.

Money made from people? Cue the Charlton Heston impression in three... two... one...

92. Zorkmids - Zork

The great granddaddy of computer games, "Zork's" currency of choice is the Zorkmid. There's actually a campaign to get Activision to mint some real life Zorkmids, but it looks like their plan's fallen apart. Still, if you're an old school gamer (and I'm talking OLDEST school. Plato and The Academy style) and you have some real money to spend, you might get The Zorkmid Project off the ground.

93. Gella - Wild ARMs

It's a western! It's an RPG! It's gold! It's hair gel! It's Gella!

94. Gold Crowns - WarHammer World

Gold crowns? Like at the dentist's office? DAMN YOU DENTAL PROFESSION! WAS PERN NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? MUST YOU DOMINATE WARHAMMER WORLD AS WELL?

95. Zeny - Ragnarok Online

Huh. Dragonball Z, Megaman Legends, and Ragnarok Online. Zeni, Zenny, and Zeny. Anyone else sensing a pattern?

96. Septims - The Elder Scrolls

Septims are extermely valuable in the classic video game franchise "The Elder Scrolls." Unless your septim is deviated, in which case I know a doctor who does this procedure that'll keep you from snoring.

97. Denars - Mount & Blade

"Mount & Blade," an action RPG with strong emphasis on mounted warfare - deals in Denars. It makes sense when you consider the game's writers are from Turkey. Denars were a popular currency in the Middle East, and still are in some countries. As a matter of fact, there's such a thing as e-dinar - a private, digital currency that deals in gold. Like Paypal for the obscenely rich.

98. Zehn - Rogue Galaxy

"Rogue Galaxy" is a Playstation 2 game detailing the adventures of Jaster Rogue, space pirate. Literally. His space ship looks like a Galleon.

Seriously, people. I know you all liked those "Pirates of the Carribean" movies. They weren't really for me - too much guyliner - but I say live and let live. But haven't we taken this fascination with pirates too far when we put their boats in outer space?

99. Fol - Star Ocean

The Star Ocean franchise is an RPG strongly inspired by "Star Trek." But at least they don't deal in credits. Star Ocean Wiki says:

Fol is the recurring universal currency of the Star Ocean series. It can be obtained by defeating enemies in battles, selling items to shops, as a reward, or found in treasure chests; it is used to buy weapons, armor and items.

Also, Billy Corgan whines his way through a Smashing Pumpkins song called "FOL."

100. Gald - Tales of Phantasia

"OK, guys. Thanks for making it to the big 'Tales of Phantasia' staff meeting. Now we need a currency that sounds like 'gold,' but is a little different. Not too different, just maybe a syllable. Oh, wait, just got an email from The Big Guy saying a syllable is too much, we should just go for a letter. So what do you think" 'Golf?' 'Gord?' 'Geld?' No, stay with me here..."

101. Bounty - Too Human

"Too Human" is an action-RPG that blends Norse mythology with science fiction. Converesely, "Human, All Too Human" is a book by Friedrich Nietzsche where he attacks organized religion, specifically Christianity. Guess which one's more fun? HINT: 1UP gave "Too Human" a C+.

102. Uroch - Steambot Chronicles

In the world of "Steambot Chronicles," Uroch is a type of currency you use to upgrade your battlemech. In the real world, URoch is a college in Rochester, NY with a serene campus and top-rated music program.

103. SPI - Space Cowboy Online

"Space Cowboy Online" is the North American name of "Ace Online," a Korean MMORPG and 3D shooter. It's also way too complicated for an old school gamer like me to understand (I'm currently playing a fan-made version of "X-Com: Ufo Defense," which actually kicks a lot of ass)

Luckily, there's Wikipedia:

Strategic Points - Strategic Points are spawned in a random map at random times, and it will despawn one hour after its spawn if not destroyed completely. An announcement is made to all players of both factions of the map the Point has spawned in. When a Strategic Point is destroyed, all participants in the assault force (anyone that was in the map or the map behind [dead or alive] upon destruction of the Strategic Point) gains a "SPI Capsule", which will give a random amount of monetary reward, ranging from 150,000 up to 300,000; and 300WP, besides his/her nation gaining 500 NCP. When a Strategic Point is successfully defended until despawn, the defender gains 500 NCP and the "SPI Capsule" along with the 300 WP. Any nation's player that still loses the Strategic Point while being one map before/after the location of the Strategic Point will still gain 100 WP.

Uh... say what?

104. Warl - Trapt

Warl is the currency of "Trapt," a fantasy/action/strategy game for the Playstation 2 and not a single from "Trapt," the alternative-rock band from Los Gatos.

105. Energy - Alpha Centauri

"Alpha Centauri" is a galactic colonization game from Sid Meirs, of "Civilization" fame. The currency was energy, which though can neither be created nor destroyed can apparently be spent on space probes and moonbases.

106. Alz - Cabal Online

"Cabal Online" is a free Korean 3D MMORPG that, according to PC Gamer UK, is "mindblowingly generic." Alz is the game's name for gold pieces. But apparently, all the gold pieces in the world won't buy you a little creativity.

I'm sorry. Please don't be mad. It's not even that you did anything particularly horrible, other than being so uninteresting that I had to dig up this whole tortured metaphor to get anyone to read this far into a discussion of your latest game. It's simply that the competition is better to the point where you don't need to exist.

107. Pyreals - Asheron's Call

In the MMORPG "Asheron's Call," Pyreal refers to both a metal alloy and the money made from it. Like our "Nickel," if nickels were infused with Mana. And with some of the germs Dateline's discovered on our money, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a little mana on there.

108. Mito - Drift City

RPG meets racing game in "Drift City," which is in Skid County just past Nitrousville. If you get to Body Shoppington, you've gone too far.

109. Bits - Genso Suikoden

It seems like calling your money "bits" is just a little poverty-tempting. Why not at least call it "Bytes" or shoot for the moon with "Gigas"?

110. Ferg - Jinxter

Jinxter is a text-adventure game that came out way back in 1987. Though in-game trading was done in Fergs, the game really traded on its absurdist humor. If you're so inclined, it can be downloaded here.

111. Adena - Lineage

Another Korean MMORPG - jeez, it's like the things are their national export or something - "Lineage's" one million subscribers deal in Adena. Adena can be found in the usual places - dungeons, monsters, and Chinese gold farmers.

112. Scarabs - StarFox Adventures

Scarabs are the currency of "StarFox Adventures," which took Fox McCloud out of the Arwing and onto Dinsoaur Planet. Here's a fun fact : Scarabs are based on the Egyptian Dung Beetle, which spends its whole life rolling bals of poop around. And you thought your job was shitty.

113. Crimps - Traveller

Crimps are the currency of the classic pen-and-paper RPG "Traveller." I'm not sure where to find Crimps, but might I suggest Dad's tackle box?

114. Nanites - System Shock 2

In "System Shock 2," nanites are used to purchase items from vending machines. But the only shock to my systems is that in the distant future, people still use vending machines. Really? We can travel in starships faster than light but I still have to count out 85 cents for a roll of Mentos?

115. Meat - Kingdom of Loathing

Meat is the main currency in the satirical online MMORPG Kingdom of Loathing. Which leaves Vegetarians right where they belong - below the poverty line.

116. Baum - Alex Kidd in Miracle World

Yo dawg, Alex Kidd? He's da' baum!

117. Oz - Cortex Command

Follow me here. Alex Kidd's currency was the Baum. L. Frank Baum wrote "The Wizard of Oz." Cortex Command's currency is the Oz... which means that the disembodied head you play as in the game must be the mind of L.Frank Baum!

... wait. What's that about the disembodied brain?

Cortex Command is a 2-dimensional side-scrolling action game developed by Data Realms. In the game, the player takes the role of a disembodied brain, who controls various clones to achieve his aims.. As the brain is weak, the player must manage his resources carefully, protecting the brain, mining gold and fighting off enemies.

Wow. That sounds gross. And I played Knights of Xentar.

118. Dotori - Cyworld

In the social network of Cyworld, Dotori is used to pay for virtual goods and services. According to CNN, they actually make about $300,000 USD every day just from selling Dotori.

119. Hell - Disgaea

Hell is other people...'s money.

120. Mesos - Maplestory

Yet another South Korean MMOPRG, Maplestory is a 2-D side-scroller that, as far as I can tell, has nothing to do with maple syrup. Which is disappointing.

121. Moolah - Oddworld

Yep. That's odd.

122. Pangya - Pang

Nothing I write here will be any funnier than the way "Pangya" sounds when you say it out loud, so I'll just take a backseat here while you try it for yourself.

Pangya.

Pang-ya.

Pang-Ya!

123. Ka-Ching - Patapon

Pang-ya....Pang, yeah? Pang! Yeah!

...Yep, still funny.

124. Meseta - Phantasy Star

Meseta is from the Spanish for "table," while Phantasy Star is from the Sega for "God, we with this game was as good as Final Fantasy why isn't it oh lord please why isn't it?"

125. Pokos - Pikmin

Pokos is too adorable a word to be a currency. Dollar. Buck. These are hard words. "Poko" is a noise a bird makes. A tiny bird with a broken wing. Who wishes he could man up and actually talk to that girl from the record store. I mean, how many copies of "Graceland" can one tiny bird buy just for the excuse to talk to the cute goth chick behind the register?

126. Dagols - Radiata Story

Whoa, that's way too close to a racist word, Radiota Story. Might as well call your money "Spicos" or "Kikeykins." We're past that stuff, man. Obama's President now.

127. Zulie - ROSE Online

Eh. I'd rather play Zulie Online and trade in Rose, but maybe that's just me.

128. Bolgs - RuneQuest

RuneQuest is the world's second most-popular pen-and-pencil RPG, after D&D. Which means that for the half-a-percent of women that play D&D, even less play RuneQuest. So good luck getting a prom date there, Poindexter.

129. Keros - SaGa

That few women play RuneQuest?! More like POONquest!

...Yeah, I shoulda gone with that...

130. Lucre - Seiken Densetsu

What the hell's a Seiken?

131. Interstellar Credits - Star Control II

No, no, these credits are totally different. They're accepted in more than one stellar!

132. Potch - Suikoden

I think California lets you have up to an ounce of Potch for medicinal reasons...

133. Guilders - Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle

Doesn't "Ultima" mean the last of something? How can you have 7 lasts? Let alone part two of that seventh last?

134. Obsidian - Ultima VIII

This is just ridiculous. 8?! The people at EA need a course in Latin. Or Math.

135. Oth - Valkyrie Profile

Oth. Favored currency of Valkyrie Profile and people with pizza burns.

136. Guilder Credits - Warhammer 40,000

So in 40,000 years, Warhammer goes from Gold Crowns to Guilder Credits? Good news, Inheritance Trilogy! You've got something to look forward too! Okay, you too, Known Space.

<Sigh>

And you, Star Wars...

The Entire List:

Television 1. Cubit - Battlestar Galactica

2. Smartmoney - Earth: Final Conflict

3. Venusian Currency - The Jetsons

4. Grotznit - The Mysterious Planet/Dragonfire

5. Narg - The Two Doctors

6. Zeni - Dragonball Z

7. Credits - Firefly

8. Dollarpound - Red Dwarf

9. Yen-Euro-Dollars - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

10. Professorland Funbucks - Futurama

11. Federation Credits - Star Trek

12. Marinaro - Patalliro!

13. Woolongs - Cowboy Bebop

14. Monies - Invader Zim

15. Double Dollars - Trigun

16. Dollops and Sments - Chowder

17. Jenny - Hunter X Hunter

18. Dollaryen - The Most Irresponsible Man in Space

19. Dollaryen - Gunbuster

20. Wong - Outlaw Star

21. Beri (Berries) - One Piece

22. Sens - Fullmetal Alchemist

23. Kan - Bleach

24. Hytes and Kules - Mobile Suit Gundam

25. Nargs - The Two Doctors Books 26. Whuffie - Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

27. Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts - Harry Potter series

28. Fairy Gold - Artemis Fowl series

29. Sequins - Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" Trilogy

30. Air Dollars - H.G. Wells' "The Shape of Things to Come"

31. Crescents - Chronicles of Narnia

32. Ankh-Morpork Dollars - Discworld

33. Nick - Left Behind

34. Kongbucks - Snow Crash

35. C-Bills - BattleTech

36. Kalganids - Second Foundation

37. Oceanian Dollar - 1984

38. Marks - Dragon Riders of Pern

39. Solari - Dune

40. Tik, Agol, Smerduk, and Riik - Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser

41. Ozol - Alastor series

42. Altarian Dollar - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

43. Fretzers - Frritt-Flacc

44. Ool - Dance of Gods

45. Swiss Franc - High Justice series

46. S.V.U. (Standard Value Units) - Demon Princes

47. Marks - Vorkosigan Saga

48. Credits and Dollars - Rim World

49. Hong Kong Luna Dollar - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

50. Fuseodollars - The Night's Dawn Trilogy

51. Credits - What Mad Universe

52. Auric - The Domination of Draka

53. New Yen - "Sprawl" stories

54. Stellars and Minims - Citizens of the Galaxy

55. Crowns - Inheritance Trilogy

56. Crowns - Known Space

57. Days - Strata Movies 58. Credits - Total Recall

59. Imperial Credits - Star Wars

60. Spacebucks - Spaceballs

61. Dirt - Waterworld

62. Anti-Money - The Adventures of Pluto Nash

63. Creds - Judge Dredd

64. Robots? - A.I. Artificial Intelligence

65. Barcodes - Idiocracy

66. Water - Ice Pirates Games 67. Bottlecaps - Fallout

68. Sovereigns - Knights of Xentar

69. Nuyen - Shadowrun

70. Buckazoid - Space Quest

71. Gold - World of Warcraft

72. Gil - Final Fantasy

73. Munny - Kingdom Hearts

74. Rupees - The Legend of Zelda

75. Rings - Sonic the Hedgehog

76. Tiberium - Command and Conquer

77. Simoleons - The Sims

78. Bolts - Mega Man 7

79. Bison Dollar - Street Fighter

80. PED (Project Entropia Dollar) - Entropia Universe

81. Ptas - Resident Evil 4

82. Goth - Ogre Battle Series

83. Funds - Advance Wars

84. Pearls - Beyond Good and Evil

85. Gilda - Dark Cloud

86. Space Credit - F-Zero

87. Zenny - Mega Man Legends

88. cR - Halo

89. Dil - 2Moons

90. Bell - Animal Crossing

91. Tokkul - RuneScape

92. Zorkmids - Zork

93. Gella - Wild ARMs

94. Gold Crowns - WarHammer World

95. Zeny - Ragnarok Online

96. Septims - The Elder Scrolls

97. Denars - Mount & Blade

98. Zehn - Rogue Galaxy

99. Fol - Star Ocean

100. Gald - Tales of Phantasia

101. Bounty - Too Human

102. Uroch - Steambot Chronicles

103. SPI - Space Cowboy Online

104. Warl - Trapt

105. Energy - Alpha Centauri

106. Alz - Cabal Online

107. Pyreals - Asheron's Call

108. Mito - Drift City

109. Bits - Genso Suikoden

110. Ferg - Jinxter

111. Adena - Lineage

112. Scarabs - StarFox Adventures

113. Crimps - Traveller

114. Nanites - System Shock 2

115. Meat - Kingdom of Loathing

116. Baum - Alex Kidd in Miracle World

117. Oz - Cortex Command

118. Dotori - Cyworld

119. Hell - Disgaea

120. Mesos - Maplestory

121. Moolah - Oddworld

122. Pangya - Pang

123. Ka-Ching - Patapon

124. Meseta - Phantasy Star

125. Pokos - Pikmin

126. Dagols - Radiata Story

127. Zulie - ROSE Online

128. Bolgs - RuneQuest

129. Keros - SaGa

130. Lucre - Seiken Densetsu

131. Interstellar Credits - Star Control II

132. Potch - Suikoden

133. Guilders - Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle

134. Obsidian - Ultima VIII

135. Oth - Valkyrie Profile

136. Guilder Credits - Warhammer 40,000

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