During her time at First University, Hermione had gained a clear understanding of the Wizarding World's currency system and prices.
Jade was the hard currency of this world.
One standard Jade Coin was worth ten Gold Beans; one Gold Bean was worth six silver coins; and one silver coin equaled twenty copper coins. Roughly speaking, one Jade Coin was worth 1,200 copper coins.
In Beta Town, a large standard Star Chart drawn with a magic Feather Pen cost five copper coins; for a detailed chart of a specified star region, another five copper coins would get the shopkeeper to thoughtfully add soft edging.
A whole roast chicken, the signature offering on Pedestrian Street, cost around twenty-five copper coins. That was already the price after it had gone up by one copper coin last year.
At a wandering wizard's bar, a five-hundred-milliliter bottle of "Green Bee" cost only two Silver Coins.
An ounce of properly prepared dragon bone powder cost no more than one Gold Bean and three Silver Coins—in Hogwarts, potion-grade dragon bone powder cost anywhere from fifteen to thirty Galleons per ounce. By that measure, prices on Buji Island were not particularly high.
Since arriving on the island, Hermione's largest single expense had not exceeded one silver coin. She had never even bought anything priced in Jade Coins.
But now—
If she had not seen wrongly, every piece of jade Xiao Xiao had just used was the size of a palm, pure in quality and brimming with Spiritual Essence. They were clearly top-grade. With a little polishing, jade of that quality could make at least four or five standard Jade Coins. Even after deducting processing losses, valuing one piece at four Jade Coins was an extremely conservative estimate.
A wooden box held around forty pieces of jade, making one