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Post by talysman on Oct 13, 2012 19:02:26 GMT -6
Moldvay may have only been referring to diameter when he said all coins are about the same size. You could easily make silver coins thick and gold coins half as thick, making them the same "size" and weight.
But given a recent discussion about how to set the number of coins in a treasure trove, it might be better to consider all gp figures as just being a weight/value and not an actual count of the coins. Some of the coins in the haul may be nickel-sized, some may be giant palm-sized affairs. Doesn't matter. The sack contains the equivalent of 300 gp in both value and weight.
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Post by Fireangel on Oct 13, 2012 19:28:21 GMT -6
That's pretty much how we do it; all our characters have notations like:
Gold: 67.53
Silver: 322.625
Copper: 123.5
We detail coinage and fractional coinage for countries, but gloss it over when actually accounting it.
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Post by Malcadon on Oct 14, 2012 0:47:25 GMT -6
They usually had an assortment of coins of different weights and origins - English pennies, Arabic deniers, Byzantine hexagrams - mixed in with an amazing array of silver jewelry, tableware, amulets, even chunks of statues or larger pieces... "Hack silver" was the term. One popular type of item was arm rings or bracelets made from a heavy spiral of silver bar - you could wear it until you spent it all, and pieces could be cut off as desired to make 'change'.  That is something I also like to do. Instead of just throwing coins at the PCs, I convert them to other things of about equal value, like substituting actual silver pieces for silverware found hidden in a pantry, or a golden armband in place of pocket change. I also like how jewelry gets used on Barsoom. In the case of money-as-jewelry, I have read and seen the use of coins as decoration akin to gypsies and belly-dancers. In The Road of Kings (MGP Conan RPG), it noted how the people of Asgard and Vanaheim sown coins on their clothing. Although Red Sonja gets flack for sporting a "chainmail bikini," but in truth, it always looked like coins held together by wire. Everyone like to diss the character for her lack of understanding with how armor protection works, but I have seen her in a chainmail shirt to know better. If anything, I would rather diss her for living like a warrior, and dressing like a naked belly-dancer. Now that is a nice pair of money bags!   As for exotic coinage, I have been encountering a wide range of shapes and sizes. I have seen them look like little tools or weapons (like the old knife and spade coins from China), bars, beads, non-disc shapes (squares, tingles, and the like) and even as plats (or plåtmynt). Although they are usually made of cheaper materials, tokens might have special value in the places they where issued. Of the tokens I like to use in my own games are the spintria-styled brothel tokens (although players tend to get confuse why someone would mint coins with dirty images on them). As long as they are not overused, going beyond vanilla coinage helps flavor the game than just the same old "You found gold!" Finding coins in the shape of arrowheads would provide for a little surprise, while those naughty little tokens could make for an unforgettable moment when handled right. |
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Post by Finarvyn on Oct 14, 2012 6:22:51 GMT -6
Now that is a nice pair of money bags! As for exotic coinage.... Um, that would be "erotic" coinage, right? We need more threads like this!  |
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Post by Fireangel on Oct 15, 2012 6:26:16 GMT -6
As DM, I usually provide treasure in both artistic and melt value, meaning the value of the item as-is and the intrinsic metal value of the item (ex: "simple silver armband: 78 sp melt", "gold signet ring: 5 gp / 2.2 gp melt").
Coins are provided in general value, sometimes with further notation, like: "36.425 sp in assorted silver coinage" or "235.5 sp in Cochinean coinage".
As you might suspect, moneychangers are a staple in our games.
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