Virtual Currency

Multiple types of virtual currencies exist in Paydirt due to the historical accuracy pillar that is central to its design. This differentiates Paydirt from other games and creates an opportunity for both fun and learning to take place.

Gold Dust

Gold Dust is the primary virtual currency in Paydirt: The Discovery and all future episodes of Paydirt. It is also a mineable resource.

During the California Gold Rush, there was a shortage of coins all across the Americas but especially in California because of the lack of mints in what was then a frontier. This led to the use of gold dust as a currency.

Gold Dust is valued at $16 Paydirt Dollars per troy ounce.

On September 9th, 1848, citizens of San Francisco met to decide the price of gold dust. They agreed that $16 per ounce was a fair price and that it ought to be taken in all business transactions at that rate.

Gold Nuggets

Gold nuggets can be used as currency and are valued by their weight and purity. It is inadvisable to use the larger Gold Nuggets as currency as they are typically worth more than their intrinsic value due to rarity and collectability.

To calculate the actual value of a gold nugget, the weight in troy oz is multiplied by the fineness and finally by the value of pure gold. E.g., a 1 oz gold nugget at 825 fineness is worth: 1 * 0.825 * 20.67 = $17.05 Paydirt Dollars.

The game performs all of the math and displays the value for convenience.

A gold nugget must be assayed at the Mint & Assay Office to determine its purity.

Gold Coins

Gold Coins can be used as virtual currency by spending at face value. There are both generic coins and rare coins. Limited edition collectible Gold Coins can be worth more for their artifact value or numismatic value than their face value or intrinsic value due to rarity and it would be wise to avoid spending them. Gold Coins can be minted in denominations of $1, $2.50, $5, $10, $20 and $50 Paydirt Dollars at the Mint & Assay Office. Some coins will be available for a limited period of time and some are specific to certain locations.

Gold Bars

Gold bars are valued by weight and fineness (purity) and can be spent as virtual currency. They range in size from 5 to 1000 troy oz and are typically used in larger transactions.

The Coinage Act of 1834 established the U.S. statutory price of gold at $20.67 per troy ounce and it remained at that price until 1933.

To calculate the actual value of a gold bar, the weight in troy oz is multiplied by the fineness and finally by the value of pure gold.

One fine oz of pure gold is worth $20.67 Paydirt Dollars. E.g., a 100 troy oz gold bar at 914 fineness is worth: 100 * 0.914 * 20.67 = $1889.24 Paydirt Dollars.

The game performs all of the math and displays the value for convenience.

A gold bar must be assayed at the Mint & Assay Office to determine its purity. Gold bars produced by the Mint & Assay Office are automatically assayed and marked. Gold bars produced outside of the Mint & Assay Office which are not assayed or marked with a fineness value are known as Doré bars.

Spanish Reales

A Spanish Real in Paydirt is worth 1 Core Credit and vice-versa. The most common unit of this currency is the Spanish Dollar. Spanish Reales are worth 1/8th of a Spanish Dollar.

Spanish Reales were a historical unit of currency used in Spain from the mid-14th to mid-19th centuries.

Spanish Dollar

A Spanish Dollar is worth eight (8) Spanish Reales and it is equivalent to a Paydirt Dollar.

The Spanish Dollar, also known as the piece of eight, was a historical silver coin that was used in Europe, the Americas and the Far East through the mid-19th century. It became the world's first global currency.

"Sales were for cash, the currency of the country being placer gold-dust at $ 16 per ounce if clean and pure, and $15 or less for that -which was not so good, supplemented by Mexican dollars and Mexican gold doubloons at $16 each; there was very little European or American coin." —William Tell Coleman

Spanish Doubloon

A Spanish Doubloon is worth sixteen (16) Spanish Dollars or 128 Spanish Reales.

The Doubloon is a historical gold coin. Doubloons were produced in several denominations of 1⁄2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 gold escudos, but Americans referred to the eight-escudo denomination as the Doubloon, so that is what is used in Paydirt.

Core Credits

Core Credits are the virtual currency of the metaverse platform Core. In Paydirt, Core Credits can be converted to Spanish Reals 1:1 by through purchase or exchange at in-game bank. Core Credits can be purchased from the Core Games Shop.