View source for House Bill

A counterpoint to [[ComStar]]'s [[C-bill]], '''House-Bills''' (often shortened to '''H-bills''') generically refers to the currencies of the [[Great Houses]].

==Overview==
One of the grandest achievements of the original [[Star League]] was the unification of the disparate economies of its member states under a single currency - the [[Star League Dollar]] - in [[2623]]. The single economic system ensured an unparalleled boom in trade only to be sundered by the [[Amaris Coup]]. Following the collapse of the Star League, each of the five Successor Lords issued new "Star League" currency bearing their likeness befitting their claims of being the sole [[First Lord]], offering sharply unfavorable exchange rates to exchange the old money for the new to help fund their war efforts. In time as it became clear that none would successfully defeat their opposition, these currencies evolved into their current form, reflecting their own cultural preferences and biases.<ref name=TSL-54>''The Star League'', pp. 54–55: "Economic and Scientific Advances"</ref><ref name=MW1-6>''MechWarrior 1st Edition'', p. 6: "A History of Human Space, 2001-3025 - The Good Years (2601-2750)"</ref><ref name=MW2-109>''MechWarrior 2nd Edition'', pp. 109–111: "Historical: Overview - The Good Years (2601-2750)"</ref><ref name=HRU-165>''Historical: Reunification Wars'', pp. 165–166: "Aftermath - Good Years - The Second Invasion"</ref><ref name=MW2d-144>''MechWarrior Second Edition'', p. 144: "Economics - Currency - House Bills (H-bills)"</ref><ref name=MW3d-180>''MechWarrior Third Edition'', p. 180: "Society and Culture - Local Currencies and Exchange Rates"</ref>

Like the Star League dollar before them, the Great House currencies were originally on the [[germanium]] standard, though the strength of the Star League dollar was more a reflection of confidence in the economy than the contents of the Star League's vaults.<ref>MechWarrior 2nd Edition'', p. 144</ref> In the chaos of the [[Succession Wars]], these reserves were supplemented by gold, silver, gemstones, and even commodities such as radioactive materials or fresh water. Management of these reserves is one of the main responsibilities of the Houses' central reserves.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 132</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 125</ref>

House-Bills form some 90% of the currency in circulation in the post–Star League [[Inner Sphere]], the remaining 10% being the ComStar backed C-bill.<ref name=MW2d-144/><ref name=MW3d-180/>

==House Bills==
*The ''[[Kroner|kroner]]'' or S-bill - [[Lyran Commonwealth]]/[[Federated Commonwealth]]/[[Lyran Alliance]]<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 157: Currency Conversion Table (3055-3062)</ref><ref name=MW3d-180/>
*The ''[[Pound|pound]]'' or D-bill - [[Federated Suns]]<ref name=MW3d-180/>
*The [[Eagle (currency)|''eagle'']] or M-bill - [[Free Worlds League]]<ref name=MW3d-180/>
*The ''[[Krona|krona]]'' or R-bill - [[Free Rasalhague Republic]]<ref name=MW3d-180/>
*The ''[[Yuan|yuan]]'' or L-bill - [[Capellan Confederation]]<ref name=MW3d-180/>
*The [[Ryu (currency)|''ryu'']] or K-bill - [[Draconis Combine]]<ref name=MW3d-180/>

==Notes==
During the existence of the Federated Commonwealth, the Kroner was also referred to as the "FC-bill."<ref>''Legacy'', p. 170 (Kindle edition)</ref> Following the secession of the Lyran Alliance, the FedCom rump state continued to issue the unified currency until the early 3060s. Though the treasury attempted to retire the older notes, neither the original Pound nor the FedCom-era Kroner had left circulation by [[3067]].<ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 156</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
* ''[[Legacy (Anthology)]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior First Edition]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior Second Edition]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior Third Edition]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]''

[[Category:Currency]]