Currency

The currency of the Four Nations seems to be based on precious metals, and quite probably on a Gold Standard. All nations that use currency seem to use the same metals. As shown in Avatar Day, it is the metal it is made of that is valuable, and not the currency itself (much as it was in many parts of the world before the adoption of the banknote). Most nations appear to use gold, silver and bronze pieces.

Earth Kingdom


Earth Kingdom coins are mostly round, and all have a square hole in their center which allows them to be strung together. It is possible this is what their national emblem is based on. There is no significant difference between bronze and silver pieces; gold pieces, however, have four notches on their edge, giving them a flower-like shape.

Fire Nation
Fire Nation coins are much more angular than their Earth Kingdom counterparts. They vary according to weight, size, and shape, though all have a nationalistic image on one side and writing on the obverse. The bronze piece is the least valuable, and is a square with two concave sides - in its center is an image of a small flame. The silver piece is the longest, and is mostly rectangular in shape with a long slit running from its base to a little below the top. The gold piece is the smallest, and pentagonal in shape with the national emblem on its face.

The Chinese word that is used to refer to the Fire Nation coins is 板 (bǎn), which literally means a metal slab.

Water Tribe
Water Tribe currency is blue and circular, with a hole in the center.