#fantasy society

CW: Worker abuse, Lead poisoning

You ever heard about corporation using scrip back in the 19th century (and unfortunately sometimes today)?

Well if you want very hateable villain, you could have some sort of baron or other titled member of the noble class do something similar with some peasants working under them.

Maybe even have the scrip be made of lead, so that the fake coins are toxic in addition to being worthless outside of the towns under the nobles rule.