There a a number of different currencies in use throughout the different regions of the world. Some of them are worth more than others, and because of this, it is common for people to get ripped off. Unless a citizen understand the concept of conversion rates, they are likely to end up with currency that seems like a lot of money, when in actuality it doesn't amount to much at all.
While a lot of money is in the form of coins, which people call clink or flash, each region also employs the use of bank notes in varying denominations (coins are also available in multiple denominations; ruling systems prefer coins because they last longer and are cheaper to maintain).
Bartering is a better way to do business from the standpoint of the common citizen, as it is easier to determine the true value of a good or service.
A note on Imperial Chits
The Clavic Empire is known to use chits in place of actual money. They are basically Emperial IOUs, which are supposed to be good to trade for actual cash in the even that a Clavic soldier does not have cash to dispense (for goods, services, or information). What people don't realize, until it's too late, is that sometimes the Empire doesn't honor the chits, and the citizen is left with nothing.