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 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 copper pieces.

Water Tribe
Water Tribe currency is blue and circular, with a hole in the center. It is possibly used in trade with surrounding settlements near the two poles. Not much is known about the Water Tribe's currency other than the fact that it is accepted in certain parts of the Earth Kingdom. As the Water Tribes utilize a smaller economic system based on subsistence, their economic system is not as advanced or sophisticated as the economic systems of industrial nations such as the Earth Kingdom.

Earth Kingdom
Earth Kingdom coins are mostly round, and all have a square hole in their center which allows them to be strung together. The shape of Earth Kingdom currency is the same as the nation's insignia. Therefore, it can be assumed that the coins were modeled after the insignia of the Earth Kingdom, or that the insignia was inspired by the design of the nation's currency. There is no significant difference between copper, silver and gold pieces besides the materials with which they are made. The only notable difference is that in gold pieces, the borders are marked by a richer shade of gold.



Copper Piece
The copper piece is the coin with the least value in the Earth Kingdom. It is a small circular copper coin, with a square hole in the middle. Copper pieces are similar to Chinese coins. Aang offers a copper piece to a Pirate Captain for a Waterbending Scroll in "The Waterbending Scroll".

Silver Piece
A silver piece is a kind of Earth Kingdom coin worth more than a copper piece, but less than a gold piece. It is made of silver, and is the second most valuable monetary item next to gold. No silver pieces are seen during the series.

Gold Piece
The gold piece is the most valuable coin in the Earth Kingdom. It is worth more than several copper pieces and silver pieces put together. Lao Bei Fong offered a box of gold pieces to Xin Fu and Master Yu to bring back Toph after she ran away from the Bei Fong estate in Gaoling.

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

Copper Piece
The copper piece is the least valuable coin in the Fire Nation, made of copper. It is a square with two concave sides. In its center is an image of a small flame.

Silver Piece
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. It is consisted entirely of silver. Silver pieces are the second most valuable coins in the Fire Nation.

Gold Piece
The gold piece is the smallest coin in the Fire Nation. It is pentagonal in shape with the national emblem on its face. Although small in size, it is considered to be the most valuable coin in the Fire Nation, and is often seen in sealed chests or loot bags.