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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore

Posted - 27 Dec 2005 : 02:16:37

Hi, scribes. This time, Ed makes reply to sillaric_culdanin’s most recent query (no, he hasn’t forgotten your Earlann questions, but his answer is unavoidably delayed, for NDA reasons relating to someone else’s not-yet-written project), thus:



Hi. Coins are universally minted in the Realms by hammering metal into flat sheets and after these have cooled, cutting out coins individually by the hold-punch-in-one-hand, whack-it-with-a-hammer method. So each coin is minted by hand, and struck twice: the first punch cuts it out and puts a simple device or mark on one side (often the denomination), and the coin is later placed, already-stamped face down, with many other coins, in a wooden form: a block of wood with a row of cylindrical recesses (“holes,” but not all the way through the wood) drilled in it. A second punch is then placed on each ‘blank’ coin and struck with a hammer, to put a second face (usually a more complex design) on the coins, which are then removed from the rack, the edges buffed and the faces polished by hand, and given to the mintmaster for inspection (“rejects” are melted down immediately, as in the Realms there are no coin-collectors clamouring for rare imperfections -- instead, there are angry merchants and common folk who will report or dagger you for trying to cheat them with a “forgery” (counterfeit coin), if you hand them an imperfect coin).

This question is related to one Jamallo Kreen posted just before yours, and I’ll deal with it next time. Oh, and sillaric_culdanin: you’re very welcome. We both enjoy answering questions and hanging out with fellow gamers; long may it continue.



So saith Ed. As advertised, that answer for Jamallo next time.
love,
THO

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Posted - 28 Dec 2005 : 17:29:36

Hi again, all. Jamallo Kreen posted a many-faceted question for Ed about coinage, and for clarity Ed has elected to answer it point-by-point, thus:


JK: . . .what (in Earth Prime terms) are the prevailing artistic styles of the different regions of Faerun, especially on coinage?

Ed: There are many styles, as I’ve posted here and elsewhere. There are triangular coins, square coins, circular coins, and oval coins (most Faerûnian coins are actually oval), of several different metals, some pierced when minted (for stringing on rings or cords), and many pierced by merchants in practice (very few are cut in half by merchants, because only a few will be honoured as having any value when this is done). In terms of the artistic styles of what’s stamped on their faces: you can find everything in the Realms, from crude scratched numerals to detailed illustrations (though particular countries tend to cling to a consistent style, or at least “artistic level” of style, Calimshan, Sembia, Amn, Cormyr, Silverymoon, and Waterdeep having coins generally considered the artistically finest).

JK: Technologically Waterdeep seems to be comparable to mid-15th century Italy, but that doesn’t imply that its artistic style is the same.
Ed: Comparable, yes, not closely identical, and your conclusion as to artistic style is correct.

JK: Is the numismatic art of the Realms stylized, like Medieval Earth portraiture, or does it attempt to accurately render the image of each person and thing portrayed?
Ed: Some coins have simple devices on them (usually simplified heraldic badges, of the same sort emblazoned on the tunics of soldiers), some have stylized crowns with a name of a ruler under them, and a few (mainly of the realms name above, and of more valuable denominations) have sophisticated “life-like” heads, usually side profiles, like modern real-world coins.

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Originally posted by Christopher_Rowe

Hello there!

Is there an article or list that any of you good people know about that discusses all the various coin names, types, and relative values that have been used in the FR setting?

Cheers,

Christopher

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