Bits

Bits are the standard form of currency used throughout Equestria in various episodes and other media. They are small, round coins made of gold or silver with an embossed rim. Dollar signs are used to indicate bits in the IDW comics' Friendship is Magic Issue #9 story Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair and Friendship is Magic Issue #10 story Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair - Part Deux "If You Only Have a Hammer, You See Every Problem as a Nail"; Upper Crust, Filthy Rich, Big Shot, and Action Shot have cutie marks of or including dollar signs, and Stinkin' Rich has a cent sign as his cutie mark. "Bit" is a colloquial term for certain coins, and also the term for the mouthpiece on a horse's bridle.

Season one
Applejack's recurring goal in the first season is to make enough bits to replace Granny Smith's hip and fix the roof of her barn, which is why she wants to go to the Grand Galloping Gala with Twilight Sparkle in The Ticket Master, where she plans to sell her apple treats to make money. This is followed up in The Best Night Ever, but only three ponies, Soarin, Rarity, and Prince Blueblood, actually buy anything, and Prince Blueblood quickly spits out the food after finding out it was "common carnival fare." In the episode Call of the Cutie, while attempting to be a successful apple salespony, Apple Bloom first demands bits from Berryshine browsing the merchandise (asking for "cash or credit"), then puts apples in Sweetie Drops's bag without her permission and demands bits from her.

Season two
In the episode The Last Roundup, Applejack offers her prize money from the rodeo in Canterlot to help fix the Ponyville town hall, which Mayor Mare presses her about before she leaves on the train. In The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, ponies use bits to buy cider from the Apple family. In this episode cents are also mentioned as currency. Pinkie Pie argues over the proper price of a tomato in Putting Your Hoof Down, and the price varies between one bit and two. Fluttershy negotiates over the price of a cherry in the same episode, and the price varies between 10 bits, 11 bits, 12 bits, and 20 bits, before finally being sold to Lemon Hearts for two bits.

Season three
In the opening of Magic Duel, a cloaked Trixie presents a large bag full of bits to a shop clerk in order to purchase the Alicorn Amulet. After seeing the money, the clerk does not hesitate to sell the amulet to her despite earlier describing it as "far too dangerous." In the opening of Sleepless in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash is seen holding two bits before flying off-screen. She returns in a later shot with a drink, which she presumably used the bits to purchase. In Magical Mystery Cure, Fluttershy gives Cherry Berry four silver bits to fly the Twinkling Balloon to Cloudsdale; this is the only time silver bits are used in the series, and they are used in the only transaction having anything to do with Cloudsdale.

Season four
Bits are prominently featured in Leap of Faith as Flim and Flam continuously swindle money from physically suffering ponies, selling them a fake curative tonic. At the end of the episode, Applejack receives a special bit from Silver Shill, which is later visually hinted as one of the key items behind unlocking the mysterious box. This bit is depicted differently from others, being a hoof-sized gold coin rather than a smaller gold piece that has been seen elsewhere.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (comics)
Cover D of Issue #1 depicts Apple Bloom holding on to a bunch of balloons next to a sign reading, "Balloons", "2 bits", and "Will trade for Cutie Mark". Larry's Comics and Jetpack Comics exclusive covers RE of Issue #5 depict Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake Equestria postage stamps each denominated with the value of 5 bits. In the Issue #9 story Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair, a coupon for 5 bits off is shown, and at the Summer Wrap-Up Festival and Hoedown, bits come up multiple times: the Andy Price pony offers caricatures for 5 bits, Big McIntosh wins 5 bits at horseshoes at a horse shoe toss then breaks a bell and pays 10 bits, Sweet Cream Scoops [sic] offers kisses for 1 bit and has numerous gold bits behind her, and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon offer advice for 5 bits. In the Issue #10 story Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair - Part Deux "If You Only Have a Hammer, You See Every Problem as a Nail", a sign on a ball toss booth at the Summer Wrap-Up Festival and Hoedown reads, "Guess your weight age or sex" and "Only 1 bit!", Spike sells a custom pony figure of Big McIntosh to Big McIntosh for a small bag containing bits and has collected numerous bits and bit bags, and a cash register at Photo Finish's "De Magicks of Photography" photo stand displays "$500", and in the Issue #10 back-up A page from the scrapbook of Big Mac, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon advise Hayseed Turnip Truck for 2 bits.

My Little Pony Micro-Series
In the Issue #3 story How Rarity Got Her Groovy Back, Rarity's branding of Flax Seed and Wheat Grass's "Goops for Stuff" spiritual enhancers as beauty products includes raising the price of the milk and honey bath from 4 bits to 80 bits a bottle with new, all-recycled material packaging. In Issue #5, Twilight Sparkle pays a shopkeeper pony four gold bits for some produce.

Other appearances
In the mobile game, one of the currencies available is bits. They are obtainable after completing objectives, playing mini-games, producing items, and leveling up.

In chapter 13 of the book Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell, "PFF to the Rescue", Gilda the Griffon sells tickets to see Trixie for the price of three bits each.