Flame-Stamped Iron Disc (Serath Standard)

The Ascendancy's currency system replaced the Kethari obsidian-blank standard with iron — symbolizing both their technological superiority and their break from Kethari tradition. Each disc weighs exactly 15 grams, suggesting a sophisticated system of weights and measures.

Inscription

Flam ferkat ferkum legus

/flam feɾkat feɾkum legus/

Translation

“The Flame forges the iron legion.”

Interlinear Analysis(click to expand)

Form	Gloss	POS
flam	flame.SG.NOM — the One Flame	noun
ferk-at	forge-3SG.PRES — forges/smelts	verb
ferk-um	iron-ATTR — iron, strong	adjective
leg-us	legion-NOM — the legion	noun

Script: left-to-right

Description

A standardized iron disc bearing the single flame symbol of the Serath Ascendancy on one face and the profile of an Ash-King on the reverse. The edge is milled with 24 notches — an anti-counterfeiting measure. One of 340 identical discs found in a military pay chest.

Scholarly Analysis(click to expand)

The standardized weight (15.0g ±0.3g across the hoard of 340) indicates centralized minting under state control. The Ash-King portrait is the only known depiction of an Ascendancy ruler — a bearded figure wearing the distinctive ash crown (a circlet of volcanic stone). The 24 edge-notches correspond to the 24 provinces under Ascendancy control at its territorial peak.

Provenance(click to expand)

discoverer: Dr. Helena Vasquez-Mori
discovery date: 2022-12-01
condition notes: Light surface oxidation. Stamp clearly legible on both faces. One of a hoard of 340 — this is the best-preserved specimen.
excavation team: Ashenmere Institute Field Team 4
discovery location: Military supply depot, Road Station 7, Northern Highway