Cubit

Cubits are a form of government-regulated currency used throughout the Twelve Colonies in both the Original Series and Re-imagined Series.

In the Original Series

Cubits were normally seen in coin form. Frequently, viewers have seen cubits played in pyramid games, usually while Starbuck is playing.

In the Re-imagined Series

Starbuck tearing a 1000 cubit slip. (Colonial Day)

The cubit typically comes in two forms: coin and paper (Miniseries).

The paper version comes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 (logically assumed), 500 (Act of Contrition) and even 1000 (Colonial Day). Coin versions of cubits also exist and bear the icon of the colony of origin on at least one of its sides (Black Market).

Currency becomes worthless in the eyes of some, particularly Tom Zarek, because it is a vestige of the "old ways" that the survivors cling to. Despite this, Wallace Gray is instrumental in creating and maintaining commerce in the Fleet, so this form of currency is still utilized (Colonial Day).

It is assumed that cubits became the common currency after the Articles of Colonization were passed.

Notes

The Cubit is an ancient unit of measurement used by various civilizations and mentioned several times in the Christian Bible, most prominently in the Old Testament story of Noah's Ark. The natural cubit is based on the distance between thumb and another finger to the elbow on an average person.