Galactic Credit Standard



"Republic credits? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real."

- Watto

The Galactic Credit Standard, simply called credit, colloquially referred to as Republic Dataries, and later known as the Imperial Credit, was the main currency in use in the galaxy since the time of the Galactic Republic.

The symbol for the Galactic Credit Standard looks like the letter Resh (R) with two parallel lines running vertically through it, probably denoting "Republic."

One tenth of a credit is called a decicred.

Form


Since its inception, the credit was always a physical currency with both coins and bills being printed. Later, during the height of the Galactic Republic, credit chips became popular. When the Galactic Empire was nearing its end, physical currency regained a gush of popularity because no one knew which side would win out, and they did not want their credit chips to be suddenly worthless.

Decline
During the Clone Wars and subsequent rise of the Empire, many people were worried about the outcome and what effect it would have on their galactic economy. Because of this, an overwhelming majority of planets outside the Core and Inner Rim would not accept credits. These planets and regions started minting their own money. The Empire used the same currency, although they called it the Imperial Credit. During the reign of Emperor Palpatine, there were few who would not accept the credit. Even the Alliance to Restore the Republic used it, as it was the most used currency, and the easiest to use.



After the fracturing of the Empire at the Battle of Endor, many different currencies came into existence. Though the New Republic had reclaimed the credit, it was by no means the most accepted monetary unit in the galaxy. Many regions printed their own currency, including the Imperial Remnant. During this time exchange rates fluctuated wildly, and indeed it was hard at times to find anyone that would exchange one for another. Traders, smugglers, and legitimate freighters dealt in precious metals, and commodities, as neither the New Republic nor the Imperial Remnant would accept the others currency.

At that time, the credit was backed by the immense wealth of the planet Muunilinst. During the Clone Wars, it backed the currencies of both sides, as it would do again for the New Republic and Imperial Remnant.

Behind the scenes

 * In supplemental material written by George Lucas in 1977 for the use of licensees, he described the "Coin of the Galactic Realm" as having two forms: a "credit unit", which is left undescribed, and a flat square coin made out of crystal. The crystal coin was unreproducible by anyone other than the Empire.