Path of Exile 1's most radical and celebrated innovation is its complete reinvention of the in-game economy. It discards the universal concept of gold, instead building a complex, player-driven market where the very tools used to modify items also function as money. This fusion of **crafting** and commerce creates a uniquely deep and satisfying economic ecosystem. Every dropped **currency** orb, from the humble Orb of Alteration to the exalted **Exalted Orb**, holds dual value: it is a direct instrument of power for character progression and a unit of trade with a fluid, player-determined value. This system transforms every player into an active participant in a living market, where knowledge of **currency** values and **crafting** potential is as crucial as combat skill.

The cornerstone of this system is the absence of a vendor trash currency. Instead, the dozens of **currency** orbs—Alteration, Augmentation, Transmutation, Chaos, Regal, Exalted, Divine, and many more—are the lifeblood of the game. Each has a specific, deterministic **crafting** function. A Chaos Orb re-rolls all modifiers on a rare item. An **Exalted Orb** adds a new random modifier to a rare item. A Divine Orb re-rolls the numerical values of existing modifiers. Because these orbs have tangible, powerful uses, their value is intrinsically linked to player demand for their functions. An **Exalted Orb** is valuable not because a vendor says so, but because adding a modifier to a high-end rare item is a pivotal step in endgame **crafting**.

This creates a self-regulating, player-driven market. The value of a Chaos Orb versus an **Exalted Orb** fluctuates based on league stage, meta builds, and the overall economy's inflation. Early in a league, basic **currency** for mapping like Alchemy Orbs hold higher relative value; later, the focus shifts to exalted and divine orbs for high-end **crafting**. Players become traders by necessity. To acquire a build-enabling unique, one doesn't farm gold; one farms maps to collect a basket of **currency** orbs that the seller will accept. This turns every loot filter setting and every inventory management decision into a micro-economic choice. Is it worth picking up that Alteration Shard? For a new player, absolutely. For a min-maxer running tier 16 maps, perhaps not.

The economy's depth is further amplified by the presence of premium **currency** items like **Mirrors of Kalandra**. A Mirror creates a duplicate of a non-unique item, making it the ultimate token of wealth, used to copy perfectly **crafted** legendary items. Its value is so astronomically high that it is often used as a benchmark for the most expensive gear. This tiered system—from basic alteration shards to the mythical mirror—provides a clear economic ladder, giving players at all stages tangible financial goals.

Thus, POE 1 Currency's **currency** system is a masterstroke of integrated design. It elegantly solves the problem of worthless loot by making every **currency** drop a potential **crafting** opportunity or a step toward a trade. It demands and rewards economic literacy, fostering a community where price-checking, market speculation, and savvy trading are core skills. In Wraeclast, wealth isn't just spent; it is *used*, invested into items, and compounded through knowledge and risk, making the pursuit of treasure an intellectually engaging game within the game.