Just because various social programs and charities ensure that no one will be needlessly poor or hungry, the need for money has not diminished. In the outlying areas of the Federation or in other jurisdictions, the need for money is every bit as important or more as it was centuries ago. Even with modern social programs, most people have strong work ethics that require them to support themselves, and strong incentives exists for persons to be self supporting. As such monetary systems and currencies must be established. Although the Federation Credit is the official currency of the UFP, many other currencies are in use throughout the known galaxy. This is a summary of major currency systems currently in use.

The Federation Credit is the standard monetary unit of the United Federation of Planets. It was created in 2161 by the founding worlds of the UFP to prevent rampant confusion over dozens of currencies with constantly changing exchange values. The Credit was created with the planetary reserves of the first worlds to back it and was constantly updated with the finances of every new member until the value was permanently stabilized in 2275 to prevent erratic exchange rates to other currencies emerging into use. The credit is usually kept as secured data in accounts in the Federation Central Bank in Geneva, on Terra, accessed by retina or fingerprint verification along with a ID code. However, the need for cash has not diminished with time, since the potential for computer theft and crime exists with even the most advanced system, along with the occasional unavailability of a terminal to verify credit. To this end a cash system was established in 2200. Tokens of 1, 5, and 10 credits were created, color coded as copper, silver, and gold, respectively. Notes of 1, 10, 50, and 100 Credits were created but were given blue colors with denomination marked on corners. All forms of cash were molecularly encoded to prevent counterfeiting, as replication would be inefficiently expensive. Code verifiers to detect counterfeiters are widely available mounted in pins, rings, or other everyday items.

The Lek is the uniform currency of the Cardassian Union, the Talarians, and the Zenkethi. Although originally created by the Cardassians, political and economic alliances created this uniform currency. This system is purely kept as computer data, the closest to cash in use is Voucher Isolinear Rods with the denomination printed on the top, with a nanoprocessor in the device to update and verify credit integrity, changes in credit value are reflected on the top mounted display wafer. Security in the Lek credit system is one of the most secure encryption systems in the galaxy, as it funds the enormous Cardassian Militia

Latinum is the exchange medium among the Ferengi and honored in the Klingon Empire, and Cardassia, although many merchants in the Federation do honor Latinum. It is considered valuable because it is a pressure crystallized alloy of Platinum and Gold. It cannot be effectively replicated because of the nanoscopic patterns placed in the matter, it must be painstakingly crafted in secured plants. Verification of Latinum is available through scanners similar to those used to verify Federation Credits, in fact some scanners can verify both. This valuable metal is available in 2 standard forms, bars and strips. Bars are ingots 1 cm by 5 cm by 10 cm. Strips are rods 1 cm by 2 cm by 8.3 cm. Because it cannot be electronically stolen or traced, it is popular on the Black Market or other illegal activities.

Litas are the official currency of the Bajoran Provisional Government. The origin of the lita dates back to before the Cardassian occupation and the Bajoran exploration of space. The modern Lita was established in 2369 as a resource of the Bajoran Government. Litas are stored as data in the central computer of the Bajoran Provisional Government. Litas are not usually kept as physical currency although a debit or credit rod may contain Lita account access.

Darseks are the official currency standard of the Klingon Empire. The Darsek Central Bank is actually a Maximum Security Fortress housing the financial reserves and a secured Central Node of the Klingon Imperial Information Net. On the Information Net the Darsek is accessible by thumbscan or genetic scan. Physically the Darsek is a coin with the insignia of the Klingon Empire on one side and the denomination on the other. Like most other physical currencies the Darsek is encoded with an unreplicable pattern and can be verified with a personal scanner. Darsek coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 100.

The Issik is an old financial standard originally created by the Orions as a method of exchange in the Rigel system and surrounding area. Although the Orions joined the UFP in 2240 the Issik lasted because of the respect afforded the unit. The Issik is now considered universal throughout known space. Although not as common as Latinum or Credits, it is generally honored at most large establishments or services. The Issik is available as computer data, centrally kept on Rigel V, with branch banks on all UFP member worlds and throughout Klingon and Ferengi space. Physically an Issik is a 15 mm square crystal memory chip that contains a secured financial verification code that comes in units of 1, 10, 100 and 1000, engraved on the chip cover.

• Federation Credits
• Issiks

• Latinum
• Darseks

• Latinum
• Leks
• Issiks

• Latinum
• Leks
• Issiks
• Federation Credits
• Darseks
• Litas