Currency & Measures of Gor Units of Measure ah-il - a unit of measure, the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, c. 18"; analoguous to the Earth cubit; 10 ah-il equal one ah-ral ah-ral - a unit of measure equalling 10 ah-il, or approx. 180" Foot - 10 horts equivalent to 12 1/2 earth inches Hort- equivalent to 1 1/2 inches Huda- a unit of measure equalling 5 tefa Tef- approx. a handful of some quantity (a handful of ta-grapes) Tefa - 6 tef : also a small basket Talu- 2 gallons Pasang - .7 of a mile Stone - 4lbs Weight-10 stone[40lbs]   Gorean Coinage Gorean coins are not minted through any type of automated process. The Gorean coin is struck by hand. This is done by first softening the coin-blank, by warming the metal. It is then placed between two engraved 'molds', the top 'mold' is then struck with a hammer, impressing the design on both sides of the coin. This technique means Gorean coins (which are not designed to be stacked or rolled) carry a design which is much deeper and more intricately sculpted than a typical Earthen coin. The average Gorean coin is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about three-eighths of an inch thick. Designs vary depending upon the city where they are minted, though typically they will bear, upon one side, a picture of the creature which they are named for; i.e, a tarn disk will have the image of a tarn, a tarsk disk will have the picture of a tarsk, etc. The opposite side is adorned with the symbol or seal of the coin's city of origin. Copper Tarsk Bit A copper coin worth from 1/4 to 1/10th of a copper tarsk, depending upon the original value of the coin and how that coin has been segmented. The usual number of tarsk-bits in a copper tarsk tends to be eight. When copper tarsks are struck, they are typically pre-segmented with deep grooves which enable a user to snap the coin into smaller pieces, like the wedges of a pie. Half of a standard copper tarsk would therefore be worth "four bits;" one-quarter of the whole coin, would therefore be worth "two bits," and so on. Copper Tarsk Disk A copper coin that is the whole coin of least value, equalling up to ten tarsk bits, though more typically, eight. The copper tarsks of Ar, for instance, are designed to be separated into eight sections. Copper Tarn Disk A copper coin of slightly greater value than the copper tarsk disk. Once common in certain cities, now widely discontinued due to a move toward standardization of Gorean coinage to emulate that of the city of Ar, which most probably no longer uses it. Silver Tarsk Disk The primary silver coin in use upon Gor, worth 100 copper tarsks. The silver tarsk is probably the single most-used denomination of Gorean coinage, owing to its medial value. Silver Stater In use in several Gorean cities, notably Brundisium and Argentum. It is probably roughly equivalent in value to a standard Gorean silver tarsk disk. Gold Tarn Disk A common unit of currency, with a rather high monetary value owing to the metal from which it is made, and worth 10 silver tarsks. It is also minted in double-weight; as described below. Several cities mint their own gold tarn disks, but the Gorean standard is typically the gold tarn disk of Ar, which is highly valued for its consistant quality and and purity. Gold Stater In common usage in the city of Brundisium, and presumably elsewhere. The gold stater of Brundisium is known to be of excellent quality and good weight, and is probably of slightly higher value than a traditional gold tarn disk. Double-Weight Gold Tarn Disk A gold tarn disk, minted at double thickness to be twice the weight of a standard gold tarn disk. It is otherwise similar to a regular gold tarn disk in all respects, and is, due to its increased weight and bullion value, the highest denomination of coinage in use upon Gor. Gem Stones In addition to the coins, there is a healthy trade based upon the mining, cutting and polishing of precious and semi-precious gem stones of Gor, although the value of such items is entirely relative, owing greatly to the quality of the stones, their rarity in various parts of Gor, and, when they are set into jewelry, the quality and composition of their fixtures and settings. The sapphires of Schendi, for instance, are widely prized throughout all of Gor and are even used as a limited form of currency upon occasion. The Gorean Monetary Draft Goreans often make use of paper "monetary drafts" or "promisary notes" which may be cashed at the various banking institutions and money-lenders against the credit of the draftee. The Caste of Money-Lenders oversee all such practices, typically from the city money-houses which reside on The Street of Coins, which is traditionally the name for the financial districts of most Gorean cities. ___________________________________ Back ________________________________________________________________