Coins of Faerun... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Coins of Faerun... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dungeon Mastr
09-01-03, 12:24 PM With the beggining of my FR camapign looming near, I have been having trouble with finding the list of currency in Faerun.

Actually, I have found an abundance of info regarding coins of Sembia, Cormyr, and the Lands of Intrigue, but I can't seem to find anything about the coins that come from the North, particulary in the Silver Marches area. I know about the "electrum moon" from Silverymoon, but I haven't been able to find out what coins they use in this reigon. Do they Dwarves mint them? Do they use southern coins?

Thanks to anyone that helps! :)
Herr Doktor
09-01-03, 12:51 PM Check out the FRCS (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting) pg 91 for some useful info on coinage including: common coinage, trade bars, and odd currency.

If you don't have the FRCS handy, then perhaps I could post what I can find on northern currency here. But it'd probably be worthwhile to do the research yourself.
FineasBoggs
09-01-03, 08:54 PM The Forgotten Realms Adventure has quite a bit of info on the subject if you have it. There was a similar thread to this a while ago so you may do a search for it. It listed all the information from Adventures.

http://webpages.charter.net/acamphuysen/zhent_symbol.gif
Long Live The Black Network!!!
Archade
09-03-03, 10:29 AM We should do a compiled list!

I just read the Alabaster Staff, and it detailed the coins from Unther ... although, I don't remember what they are called offhand.

Question: what coins would the Drow use? I vaguely recall in Insurrection some mention of a coinage called a 'talent'...
Dungeon Mastr
09-03-03, 05:05 PM I think making a complete list would be an excellent idea! :)

I know most of the coins in Faerun, but theres alot of reigons that not many sources hold information about (currency wise). Besides, its easy to find names, alot harder to find the descriptions of the coins.
Masakado
09-03-03, 05:10 PM I keep this old school link handy for just such emergencies.

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~leirbakk/rpg/adnd/equipment/adnd_equipment_moneyart.html
Archade
09-03-03, 06:12 PM I'm interested in names and descriptions.

I've perused the Alabaster Staff, and it referrs to wedges (cp) and egorae (sp). The egorae it describes as having sides marked Verses and Crowns.
Edward Bolme
11-10-03, 01:33 PM [text deleted; double post due to computer hang]
Edward Bolme
11-10-03, 01:36 PM From my notes:

sheka, -e: the much-devalued gold piece of Unther; worth little to foreign traders, as it has been heavily alloyed with less precious metals. It barely qualifies as electrum.

egora, -e: a silver coin, again devalued by nickel alloying. One side is crowns, one is verses.

coppers have no name yet, because I couldn’t come up with one I liked. I thought about using chick, because a copper bought one, but that didn’t seem to work in prose without explanation.

wedge: quarter copper (i.e., a copper cut into fourths), so named for its shape.

It is easily possible that the other coins have crowns/verses as well, although I had also considered using "fists" for a coin's face.
Archade
11-13-03, 12:59 AM Hello Edward!

Good to hear from the source itself.

Here's a question for you ... I'm trying to come up with some currency for the Wizard's Reach, and I assume after 400 years, its coins will still be modeled on those of Unther. Any thoughts?

Blair
Edward Bolme
11-13-03, 02:27 AM You have me at a bit of a disadvantage... Wizard's Reach? I feel like I'm being clueless, so a clue would help. :blush:

Off the cuff, I'd use the same grades: sheka, egora, [unnamed]. If the economy is good, I might drop the wedge.
Purple Dragon Knight
11-13-03, 05:50 AM Someone on these boards posted a link to a beautifully made coin list a while ago, but the link has now gone broken... luckily, I had the sense to save it before it went down!! :angel:

Here it goes, Waukeenians! enjoy!

Country/Region - Copper - Silver - Gold - Platinum - Other

Amn - Fandar - Taran - Dantar ("Little Pearl") - Roldon ("Pearl")
Calimshan - Unarche - Decarche - Bicenta - Kilarche
Cormanthyr - Thalver - Bedoar - Shilmaer - Ruendil
Cormyr - Thumb - Falcon - Lion - Tricrown
Impiltur - ? - Shiner - Taler - ?
Luskan - ? - Stengk - Zard - ?
Sea of Fallen Stars (Undersea) - Seyar (White Pearl) - Hayar (Yellow Pearl) - Tayar (Green Pearl) - ? - Nuyar (Blue Pearl) + Olmar (Olive Pearl)
Sembia - Steelpence - Raven - Noble - ?
Silverymoon - Smith - Rose - Halfmoon - Moon
Southern Lands - Bit - Dirham - Dinar
The Vast - ? - Seagull - Galleon - ?
Waterdeep - Nib - Shard - Dragon - Sun - Toal + Harbor Moon
Zhentarim - Donkey - Wheel - Taler - ?
Wooly Rupert
11-13-03, 09:26 AM That link is working right now...
Edward Bolme
11-13-03, 12:04 PM Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Someone on these boards posted a link to a beautifully made coin list a while ago, but the link has now gone broken... luckily, I had the sense to save it before it went down!!

Very nice. I think I'll post it to my web site (with Messemprar added, of course).
Archade
11-14-03, 12:07 PM I'm trying to come up with a comprehensive list of coinage, quoting the original source (be it game material or novels) where it came from. Here's what I have so far. If anyone can quote source locations for what I don't have, I'd appreciate it.

Amn
Fandar (cp) 1cp [TSR1159]
Danter (gp) 1gp [TSR1159]

Archendale
Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91]

Chessenta
Talents (sp) [FR10]
Drakes (gp) [FR10]

Cormyr
Thumbs (cp) 1cp
Falcons (sp) 1sp
Crowns, Lions (gp) 1gp
Tricrown (pp) 1pp
Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91]

Lantan
Gond Bell (??) 20gp Worth 10gp abroad

Mulrhorand
Precepts (sp) 1/3gp [FR10]
Pharoahs (gp) 2gp [FR10]

Sembia
Steelpense (iron) 1cp
Raven (sp) 1sp
Noble (gp) 1gp
Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91]

Shaar
Ivory Rings (ivory) 3gp

Silverymoon
Moon (gp) 2gp Gold crescent [FRSM 85]

Tethyr
Aenar (gp) 1gp

Thay
Shek (cp) 1/2 cp [HOUSE]
Drama (sp) 1sp [HOUSE]
Talon (gp) 1gp [HOUSE]

Waterdeep
Nib (cp) 1cp
Shard (sp) 1sp
Dragon (gp) 1gp
Toal (brass) 2gp Worth 0gp abroad
Sun (pp) 1pp
Harbor Moon 50gp Worth 30gp abroad

Western Heartlands
Shield (gp) 3gp [FRLD 151]
Archade
11-14-03, 12:09 PM Hi Edward!

The Wizard's Reach are the semi-autonomous cities along the southern edge of Aglarond, established by Unther during its second empire (by settlers from Chessenta). I'm thinking of using something similar to Untheric coinage, but a little different, perhaps influenced by Thay, since they are so close.
Edward Bolme
11-14-03, 01:02 PM Originally posted by Archade
The Wizard's Reach are the semi-autonomous cities along the southern edge of Aglarond.

Duh. Okay, my cylinders are firing now.

Just me, speaking off the cuff, but if it were settled by Chessentans, it should use the talents and drakes.

However, another option is to use countermarked coinage: if they never bothered to set up a mint (quite possible since they are semi-autonomous), they can use Chessentan coins and then strike them again with some sort of seal with their own. This produces a very odd-looking and ugly coin, with most of it looking like the normal coin, but with a sizeable square or round seal more or less randomly appearing on its face.

Just an idea.
Faraer
11-14-03, 02:21 PM My incomplete coin table looks like this (semicolons mean 'next cell'):

;copper;silver;electrum;gold;platinum;ot her;
Cormyr;thumb;falcon;blue eye;lion;tricrown;;
Sembia;steelpense;hawk;electrum;…;—;;FRA p. 129
Selgaunt;penny;raven;ring;fivestar;sun;; Sembia novel series
Calimshan;;;;;;;
Calimport;unarch;decarch;centarch;bicent a;kilarch;;
Memnon;;red worm;;;;;
…;rada, niften, spanner;espedrille;tazo, zonth;…;;;
Amn;fandar ;taran;decime (centaur);danter;roldon (pearl);;Lands of Intrigue: Amn p. 13
Silverymoon;;;electrum moon;;;;
Tethyr (new);donsar (lash);paxar (blade);corlar (king);aenar (queen), brakar (star) (2 gp);daublar (cup);;Lands of Intrigue: Tethyr p. 15
Zazesspur;;;;gulder;;;
Ithmong;;;;moelan;;;
Myratma;;;;myrat;;;
Saradush;;;;zoth;;;
Waterdeep;nib;shard;moon;dragon;sun;toal (2 gp), harbor moon (50 gp);GTR p. 26
Western Heartlands;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;
Thay;;;;;;;
Chessenta;;talent;;drake;;;FR10 Old Empires p. 56
Unther;wedge (Ľ cp);egora;;sheka;;;The Alabaster Staff
?;;;;;plat;;
;;;;;;;
Cormanthyr;thalver;bedoar;thammarch;shil maer;ruendil;yulthaari;Cormanthyr p. 63
Athalantar;;;;crown;;;

I ought to finish it, run it past Ed Greenwood, and see if I can get some extra information.
Edward Bolme
11-14-03, 04:33 PM Originally posted by Archade
Thay
Shek (cp) 1/2 cp [HOUSE]
Drama (sp) 1sp [HOUSE]
Talon (gp) 1gp [HOUSE]

Which reference is [HOUSE]?
ksu_bond
11-14-03, 08:41 PM I really hope that you're kidding
Archade
11-15-03, 03:11 PM [HOUSE] is house rule ... something I made up on my own. If I'm filling in blanks for my players, it's always good to keep track of that sort of thing ... :D
Edward Bolme
11-15-03, 03:48 PM Originally posted by Archade
[HOUSE] is house rule ... something I made up on my own. If I'm filling in blanks for my players, it's always good to keep track of that sort of thing ... :D

Well, that explains why I couldn't find "game material or novels" that fit that source notation. :rolleyes:

See? Kids damage your brain.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dungeon Mastr 09-01-03, 12:24 PM	With the beggining of my FR camapign looming near, I have been having trouble with finding the list of currency in Faerun. Actually, I have found an abundance of info regarding coins of Sembia, Cormyr, and the Lands of Intrigue, but I can't seem to find anything about the coins that come from the North, particulary in the Silver Marches area. I know about the "electrum moon" from Silverymoon, but I haven't been able to find out what coins they use in this reigon. Do they Dwarves mint them? Do they use southern coins? Thanks to anyone that helps! :)
Herr Doktor 09-01-03, 12:51 PM	Check out the FRCS (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting) pg 91 for some useful info on coinage including: common coinage, trade bars, and odd currency. If you don't have the FRCS handy, then perhaps I could post what I can find on northern currency here. But it'd probably be worthwhile to do the research yourself.
FineasBoggs 09-01-03, 08:54 PM	The Forgotten Realms Adventure has quite a bit of info on the subject if you have it. There was a similar thread to this a while ago so you may do a search for it. It listed all the information from Adventures. http://webpages.charter.net/acamphuysen/zhent_symbol.gif Long Live The Black Network!!!
Archade 09-03-03, 10:29 AM	We should do a compiled list! I just read the Alabaster Staff, and it detailed the coins from Unther ... although, I don't remember what they are called offhand. Question: what coins would the Drow use? I vaguely recall in Insurrection some mention of a coinage called a 'talent'...
Dungeon Mastr 09-03-03, 05:05 PM	I think making a complete list would be an excellent idea! :) I know most of the coins in Faerun, but theres alot of reigons that not many sources hold information about (currency wise). Besides, its easy to find names, alot harder to find the descriptions of the coins.
Masakado 09-03-03, 05:10 PM	I keep this old school link handy for just such emergencies. http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~leirbakk/rpg/adnd/equipment/adnd_equipment_moneyart.html
Archade 09-03-03, 06:12 PM	I'm interested in names and descriptions. I've perused the Alabaster Staff, and it referrs to wedges (cp) and egorae (sp). The egorae it describes as having sides marked Verses and Crowns.
Edward Bolme 11-10-03, 01:33 PM	[text deleted; double post due to computer hang]
Edward Bolme 11-10-03, 01:36 PM	From my notes: sheka, -e: the much-devalued gold piece of Unther; worth little to foreign traders, as it has been heavily alloyed with less precious metals. It barely qualifies as electrum. egora, -e: a silver coin, again devalued by nickel alloying. One side is crowns, one is verses. coppers have no name yet, because I couldn’t come up with one I liked. I thought about using chick, because a copper bought one, but that didn’t seem to work in prose without explanation. wedge: quarter copper (i.e., a copper cut into fourths), so named for its shape. It is easily possible that the other coins have crowns/verses as well, although I had also considered using "fists" for a coin's face.
Archade 11-13-03, 12:59 AM	Hello Edward! Good to hear from the source itself. Here's a question for you ... I'm trying to come up with some currency for the Wizard's Reach, and I assume after 400 years, its coins will still be modeled on those of Unther. Any thoughts? Blair
Edward Bolme 11-13-03, 02:27 AM	You have me at a bit of a disadvantage... Wizard's Reach? I feel like I'm being clueless, so a clue would help. :blush: Off the cuff, I'd use the same grades: sheka, egora, [unnamed]. If the economy is good, I might drop the wedge.
Purple Dragon Knight 11-13-03, 05:50 AM	Someone on these boards posted a link to a beautifully made coin list a while ago, but the link has now gone broken... luckily, I had the sense to save it before it went down!! :angel: Here it goes, Waukeenians! enjoy! Country/Region - Copper - Silver - Gold - Platinum - Other Amn - Fandar - Taran - Dantar ("Little Pearl") - Roldon ("Pearl") Calimshan - Unarche - Decarche - Bicenta - Kilarche Cormanthyr - Thalver - Bedoar - Shilmaer - Ruendil Cormyr - Thumb - Falcon - Lion - Tricrown Impiltur - ? - Shiner - Taler - ? Luskan - ? - Stengk - Zard - ? Sea of Fallen Stars (Undersea) - Seyar (White Pearl) - Hayar (Yellow Pearl) - Tayar (Green Pearl) - ? - Nuyar (Blue Pearl) + Olmar (Olive Pearl) Sembia - Steelpence - Raven - Noble - ? Silverymoon - Smith - Rose - Halfmoon - Moon Southern Lands - Bit - Dirham - Dinar The Vast - ? - Seagull - Galleon - ? Waterdeep - Nib - Shard - Dragon - Sun - Toal + Harbor Moon Zhentarim - Donkey - Wheel - Taler - ?
Wooly Rupert 11-13-03, 09:26 AM	That link is working right now...
Edward Bolme 11-13-03, 12:04 PM	Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight Someone on these boards posted a link to a beautifully made coin list a while ago, but the link has now gone broken... luckily, I had the sense to save it before it went down!! Very nice. I think I'll post it to my web site (with Messemprar added, of course).
Archade 11-14-03, 12:07 PM	I'm trying to come up with a comprehensive list of coinage, quoting the original source (be it game material or novels) where it came from. Here's what I have so far. If anyone can quote source locations for what I don't have, I'd appreciate it. Amn Fandar (cp) 1cp [TSR1159] Danter (gp) 1gp [TSR1159] Archendale Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91] Chessenta Talents (sp) [FR10] Drakes (gp) [FR10] Cormyr Thumbs (cp) 1cp Falcons (sp) 1sp Crowns, Lions (gp) 1gp Tricrown (pp) 1pp Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91] Lantan Gond Bell (??) 20gp Worth 10gp abroad Mulrhorand Precepts (sp) 1/3gp [FR10] Pharoahs (gp) 2gp [FR10] Sembia Steelpense (iron) 1cp Raven (sp) 1sp Noble (gp) 1gp Bloodnotes * [FRCS 91] Shaar Ivory Rings (ivory) 3gp Silverymoon Moon (gp) 2gp Gold crescent [FRSM 85] Tethyr Aenar (gp) 1gp Thay Shek (cp) 1/2 cp [HOUSE] Drama (sp) 1sp [HOUSE] Talon (gp) 1gp [HOUSE] Waterdeep Nib (cp) 1cp Shard (sp) 1sp Dragon (gp) 1gp Toal (brass) 2gp Worth 0gp abroad Sun (pp) 1pp Harbor Moon 50gp Worth 30gp abroad Western Heartlands Shield (gp) 3gp [FRLD 151]
Archade 11-14-03, 12:09 PM	Hi Edward! The Wizard's Reach are the semi-autonomous cities along the southern edge of Aglarond, established by Unther during its second empire (by settlers from Chessenta). I'm thinking of using something similar to Untheric coinage, but a little different, perhaps influenced by Thay, since they are so close.
Edward Bolme 11-14-03, 01:02 PM	Originally posted by Archade The Wizard's Reach are the semi-autonomous cities along the southern edge of Aglarond. Duh. Okay, my cylinders are firing now. Just me, speaking off the cuff, but if it were settled by Chessentans, it should use the talents and drakes. However, another option is to use countermarked coinage: if they never bothered to set up a mint (quite possible since they are semi-autonomous), they can use Chessentan coins and then strike them again with some sort of seal with their own. This produces a very odd-looking and ugly coin, with most of it looking like the normal coin, but with a sizeable square or round seal more or less randomly appearing on its face. Just an idea.
Faraer 11-14-03, 02:21 PM	My incomplete coin table looks like this (semicolons mean 'next cell'): ;copper;silver;electrum;gold;platinum;ot her; Cormyr;thumb;falcon;blue eye;lion;tricrown;; Sembia;steelpense;hawk;electrum;…;—;;FRA p. 129 Selgaunt;penny;raven;ring;fivestar;sun;; Sembia novel series Calimshan;;;;;;; Calimport;unarch;decarch;centarch;bicent a;kilarch;; Memnon;;red worm;;;;; …;rada, niften, spanner;espedrille;tazo, zonth;…;;; Amn;fandar ;taran;decime (centaur);danter;roldon (pearl);;Lands of Intrigue: Amn p. 13 Silverymoon;;;electrum moon;;;; Tethyr (new);donsar (lash);paxar (blade);corlar (king);aenar (queen), brakar (star) (2 gp);daublar (cup);;Lands of Intrigue: Tethyr p. 15 Zazesspur;;;;gulder;;; Ithmong;;;;moelan;;; Myratma;;;;myrat;;; Saradush;;;;zoth;;; Waterdeep;nib;shard;moon;dragon;sun;toal (2 gp), harbor moon (50 gp);GTR p. 26 Western Heartlands;;;;;;; ;;;;;;; Thay;;;;;;; Chessenta;;talent;;drake;;;FR10 Old Empires p. 56 Unther;wedge (Ľ cp);egora;;sheka;;;The Alabaster Staff ?;;;;;plat;; ;;;;;;; Cormanthyr;thalver;bedoar;thammarch;shil maer;ruendil;yulthaari;Cormanthyr p. 63 Athalantar;;;;crown;;; I ought to finish it, run it past Ed Greenwood, and see if I can get some extra information.
Edward Bolme 11-14-03, 04:33 PM	Originally posted by Archade Thay Shek (cp) 1/2 cp [HOUSE] Drama (sp) 1sp [HOUSE] Talon (gp) 1gp [HOUSE] Which reference is [HOUSE]?
ksu_bond 11-14-03, 08:41 PM	I really hope that you're kidding
Archade 11-15-03, 03:11 PM	[HOUSE] is house rule ... something I made up on my own. If I'm filling in blanks for my players, it's always good to keep track of that sort of thing ... :D
Edward Bolme 11-15-03, 03:48 PM	Originally posted by Archade [HOUSE] is house rule ... something I made up on my own. If I'm filling in blanks for my players, it's always good to keep track of that sort of thing ... :D Well, that explains why I couldn't find "game material or novels" that fit that source notation. :rolleyes: See? Kids damage your brain.