The Vuduri and Money

Ain't got none. The Vuduri have access to infinite free energy. It would never occur to them to come up with a medium of exchange when anyone can have anything they want.

This has shaped their culture halfway. Nobody wants for anything so they do not have the drive to excel. And the Overmind does the thinking for them so they lost the other half, curiosity.

When Rei and Rome first returned to the Earth, they attended a luau on Maui (a scene since deleted from Rome's Revolution). During the luau they had a discussion about money which got a little heated and it was the closest thing they ever got to an argument. Rome thought the whole concept of money was stupid and still does in the upcoming Rome's Evolution. However, they need to get their hands on some to manage in the marketplace that has sprung up in the resort city of Ur, built beneath The Hand.

The currency they acquire are called Deucats, named after Deucado. A Deucat is about the size and weight as a silver dollar. It comes into play later in the story because they need to go to the casino that was built on top of The Hand. Go figure.