The Numismatrix

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"You know 'er? Face like a prune and mind like a knife. She's giving a lecture of sorts, if you've got some good secrets. I only mention 'cos I do know you like money summat fierce."[3]

The Numismatrix is an expert in numismatics (the study of coins) and a powerful, if eccentric, figure in the Great Game.

Mrs Coins[edit | edit source]

"When she isn't working, she is forever trying to show you a coin from the reign of Augustus, or something similarly tedious."[4]

The Numismatrix is an elderly lady with a sing-song cadence to her speech and beady blue-green eyes.[5] She is extremely knowledgeable about her field,[6] and is a font of information on the esoteric currencies of the Neath[7] and the Bazaar.[8] She often gives out lectures on coinage[9] and seizes every opportunity to expound upon the subject.[10] Her Parabolan reflection is a nonexistent Master of the Bazaar called Mr Coins.[11]

The Numismatrix runs a well-secured shop from which she brokers both currency and information.[12] She can obtain any coin from around the world or under it, but she never sells more than one at a time,[13] at a high but honest price.[14] As a self-described neutral observer of the Great Game (although inaction is a decision in itself),[15] she is also interested in secrets and intelligence, as they are a form of currency in the Game.[16] Her correspondences are dispatched through the ordinary post — never by urchins.[17]

Little Coins[edit | edit source]

This section contains spoilers for the following Exceptional Stories: The Season of Silver (Conclusion). Proceed at your own risk.

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"They say that the Numismatrix knows her coins better than her children. Well, who could blame her? Coins never make untoward noise; coins never forget your birthday."[18]

The Numismatrix has at least one child, the acclaimed Great Game spy known as the Civet.[19] The Civet holds some affection for their mother, and trusts her approach and actions, but they note with disappointment that her approach to parenting involved about as much effort[20] as her neutrality in the Great Game.[21]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Season of Silver, Fallen London "The Numismatrix? One of the fabled players of the Great Game, the Keeper of Currencies, has lost treasures from her vault? What an opportunity!"
  2. ↑ Do a spot of bird watching, Fallen London "Seen any coins?" [...] "The folks up stairs say everyone's lookin' for 'em! The Numi-- Nusi-- the Nuisancematrix lost her special ones. [...]"
  3. ↑ The Numismatrix, Fallen London
  4. ↑ Speak with the Numismatrix, Fallen London
  5. ↑ Visit the Numismatrix, Fallen London "[...] you dislike the vivid mossy verdigris-green of her beady little eyes."
  6. ↑ Apply her particular expertise in a novel way, Fallen London "She's actually very helpful, once given a section of the problem that fits her particular interests. Until she launches into an explanation of the differences between Yuan coinage and earlier Mongolian currency systems. A masterclass on the subject, no doubt, but useless to your current project."
  7. ↑ Speak with the Numismatrix, Fallen London (You can ask her about practically any odd coin you find.)
  8. ↑ A lovely place for a lecture, Fallen London "Coins. You wish me to discuss coins. Very well. Echoes first. The ones you have in your purse are indeed echoes. Reflections of the first currency ever used by the Bazaar. Before it even thought about buying cities. You'll probably never see any of the underlying fundamental Coins. I never have. There's only around a dozen of them, I've heard, and the Masters won't touch them. Fascinating, no? [...]"
  9. ↑ Tracking down the Numismatrix Fallen London, {{{3}}} "The Numismatrix is far from personable, but is known to give private lectures on the subject of money. And who doesn't like money?"
  10. ↑ Speak with the Numismatrix, Fallen London "When she isn't working, she is forever trying to show you a coin from the reign of Augustus, or something similarly tedious."
  11. ↑ Employ the Reflection of the Numismatrix, Fallen London "The would-be Master is smaller and less deep-voiced than most of its kind. Sometimes its hood slips and you see a familiar profile; and a robe, clinking, lined with a thousand thousand pockets, a different coin tucked into each one."
  12. ↑ Tracking down the Numismatrix, Fallen London "Grasping your secrets in your hand, you approach the sternly secure shop of the Numismatrix. "Secrets-already-known," she says in her sing-song cadence. "One-has gone-off-already.""
  13. ↑ Visit the Numismatrix, Fallen London "The Numismatrix can obtain any coin in the world or under it, but her prices are eccentric and she never sells more than a single coin. [...]"
  14. ↑ Buy a Mark of Credit Page from the Numismatrix, Fallen London "Her prices are high, but she always deals honestly."
  15. ↑ The Season of Silver, Fallen London "The Numismatrix thinks she is a neutral observer in the Great Game, but if you choose not to make a move, you pass your turn. A choice has still been made, and the game goes on. [...]"
  16. ↑ Tracking down the Numismatrix, Fallen London "Secrets-are-a-currency, all-to-themselves," says the Numismatrix in her sing-song voice. She tucks yours away behind the counter. "I-will-make-arrangements. Others-will-hear-my-lecture. I-will-contact-you-shortly."
  17. ↑ The Numismatrix has sent you a message!, Fallen London "The Numismatrix disapproves of urchins. The note arrives by the afternoon post."
  18. ↑ The Numismatrix, Fallen London
  19. ↑ The Season of Silver, Fallen London "A scrap of cloak tore away in your hand. It has a copper-thread decoration in the corner, showing some kind of feline. Or maybe it's a weasel? No. A civet."
  20. ↑ The Season of Silver, Fallen London "There are many other pieces I could have moved. But I care enough to be disappointed in her. The Numismatrix is said to know her coins better than she knows her children. That is certainly true, although I must say she made little effort in my case."
  21. ↑ The Season of Silver, Fallen London "The Numismatrix thinks she is a neutral observer in the Great Game, but if you choose not to make a move, you pass your turn. A choice has still been made, and the game goes on. [...] She is rich, and she is powerful, and she is, in her own way, fond of Londoners. I trust she'll make the right moves. [...]"
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