From Fallen London Wiki
If you take ha'pennies at their Fate cost, this makes permanently hiring the Numismatrix cost 30 Fate. (By way of comparison, <a href="/wiki/Laboratory_Services_from_the_Silk-clad_Expert" title="Laboratory Services from the Silk-clad Expert">the Silk-Clad Expert</a> also costs 30 Fate to permanently hire, and she can produce <a href="/wiki/Parabolan_Research" title="Parabolan Research">Parabolan Research</a> early and has <a href="/wiki/Moulin_Expeditions_(Guide)" title="Moulin Expeditions (Guide)">further use in Moulin</a>.)
Less immediately outrageous than it looks, still not a good use of your money.