1. Yes, the guards who escorted Jon to the noose are easily accessible in the given time frame, though they don't have that much on them. A handful of coins on each totaling around the equivalent of thirty dollars between them, a pouch of tobacco and pipe on one and a moderately valuable wedding ring on the other.

2. Yes! Abraxas currently has a universal coin system. A full breakdown on that will be included with the detailed faction information but for quick reference there's three types of coins: gold, silver and copper. They are accepted everywhere on the continent.