Rift Currencies: What was wrong with the gold standard?
There are at least NINE types of currencies within Rift, each with its own subclasses and usages. Each class can also have multiple types of currency used in specific situations.
DON'T PANIC
The following sections will give a brief overview of what each is for, how to get it, and what it buys.
STORE Currencies
These at primarily use to buy thing from the Rift Store (never from the Auction House)
Credits: Premium currency BOUGHT WITH REAL MONEY from the Rift store and used to buy stuff from the store including upgrades, bonuses and perks not available anywhere else. each credit cost between 1.5 and 1.2 per penny. (actual money)
Affinity: A special currency given to Patrons. You can earn up to 3 per day based on time played. Affinity allows you to buy stuff ONLY from the Affinity section of the Rift Store. This includes Dimension stuff not found elsewhere, and mounts.
COIN
Good old fashioned GOLD. 100 Silver = 1 Gold, 100 Gold = 1 Platinum Used at the Auction house, in game merchants at for SOME items in the Rift store. Can also be used at stylist.
SOURCESTONE
Planarite: Earned by defeating common rift incursions in any zone. Used to buy Planar Goods from Planer Merchants in the cities. May also require you to have specific levels of Notoriety in order to purchase higher end gear.
Void Stone: Earned from Zone Events, Carnage Quests, Instant Adventure, Nightmare Rifts and killing rare world creatures. It is also used for planar gear, but also for planar armor.
PvP
Favor: Awarded in PvP and used for PvP gear at the special PvP merchants.
DUNGEONS
Abyssal Crusader's Marks: (there may be other types, I have not done all the major dungeons) Awarded in Major dungeons and intrepid adventures. Used to purchase raid gar from expert armor merchants.
RAIDS
Fragments of Darkness / Madness: Each raid dungeon tier has its own currency to purchase gear from raid merchants.
CRAFTING
Artisan's / Master Craftsman / Grandmaster Craftsman Marks: 3 tiers of crafting awards (Artisan Green; Master Blue; GM Purple) awarded for successful higher level crafting and mainly from crafting quests. Used to buy high end recipes.
ARTIFACTS
Lucky Coins: Earned by completing Artifact collections. Buys vanity goods at artifact collectors.
EVENT CURRENCY
Varies by event, for example the Autumn Harvest event has Ambersap. Used to buy lesser event rewards.
This wraps up the overview of currencies in Rift. The important thing to remember is that CREDITS = REAL MONEY.