Secrets: Currencies in the Four Corners World

Years ago, I did a tiny, impromptu reading in Stevens Point. I announced it on facebook about 20 minutes before the fact, and there were only 6-7 people there.

When I asked for questions, (because I love doing Q&A) someone asked, “How does the currency system work? You’ve got pennies and jots and shims. How does it all fit together?”

“Oh,” I said, waving my hands. “It’s really complicated. You don’t want me to get started.”

“I’m really curious,” she said. “I’d love to hear the details.”

“There really isn’t a simple answer,” I said. “There are, like, six currency systems, and I’ve put a ridiculous amount of thought into how they work, where they come from. All that. It would take me half an hour to explain it all.”

“I’m fine with that,” she said.

“Well, fair enough,” I said. “You might be interested, and I might be interested. But the other folks here probably don’t want to sit through a spontaneous lecture about Four Corners economic history.”

“Actually, I’m really curious too,” one of the other audience members said.

“Okay,” I said, “How about this? If *everyone* here is curious, I’ll explain it.”

And, much to my surprise, everyone there *was* interested. So I sat down and talked about the currency systems. (It actually took closer to 40 minutes.)

Since then, I’ve probably had a hundred people ask me how money works in the Four Corners, both in person and in e-mail. But I’ve never really had the time and opportunity to give them a detailed answer.

But now, as a way of saying thanks for people chipping in to Worldbuilders, I’ve got a cool widget you can play with that will answer a lot of your questions about the different currency systems in my world.

It will also let you do conversions between the different currencies, with or without the Cealdim taking their cut.

What’s more, certain elements of it are clickable. So if you hunt around, you’ll be able to learn more about the history and the currencies themselves. Again, if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m a geek for this stuff. But I’m well aware that not everyone is. That’s why I’ve kept most of it out of the books.

When we re-design the website. The widget will probably have its own page where you can wander over and convert to your geeky heart’s content. But for now, you’ll have to click here to see it.

Here’s the link to the Widget.

I’ll probably tweak it more in the future. Maybe get Brett or Nate to draw some of the coins so you can get a better idea of how some of them would look. Stuff like that.

Special thanks go to Jason “Kuma” Brinkerhoff without whom there would be no widget.

You know he’s one of us, because when I asked him for a picture he sent this one where he’s wearing, and I quote: “my Browncoat Ball finery.”

Jason, put up with my vaguely obsessive tendencies and long e-mail silences to put the widget together. Without him, the currency explanation would be nothing but a big texty mass and some ugly conversion tables. Instead, we have something fun we can actually play with.

As a gesture of gratitude, I offer him my heartfelt thanks, and have sent him a set of gold talent pipes. Because he’s awesome.

Lastly, just out of curiosity, if we were to make coins based on the currency in my world. Nice coins, not crappy cheap ones. Would y’all be interested in that?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I’d love to do it. But I’m not sure people would be interested in buying something like that from The Tinker’s Packs.

So… any interest?

pat

This entry was posted in geeking out, The Shape of the World. By Pat90 Responses

90 Comments

  1. Jiyuu
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 3:18 AM | Permalink

    Then that means that they use Caeldish currency at the University, even though its Commonwealth area….(only just dawned on me). I’m supposing its because Commonwealth currency is ‘unwieldy’, as Ashbride describes it.

    Are there any places in the Commonwealth that actually use the currency or does everyone just use Caeldish?

    • Posted December 30, 2012 at 2:18 PM | Permalink

      The Commonwealth coin is not centrally produced. The major cities produce their own coin, so there is some variation. With people traveling from around the world to attend the University, good, dependable Cealdish coin reigns.

      • Jiyuu
        Posted January 2, 2013 at 1:41 AM | Permalink

        Ah, that makes a lot of sense.

        On a wholly unrelated note, did you know that ‘kuma’ means ‘bear’ in Japanese?

        • Posted January 3, 2013 at 2:58 PM | Permalink

          It’s a long story as to how it became my name, but it’s become one of my most well known nicknames. Once upon a time I could stumble my way through speaking Japanese. After years of disuse, though, I can only really muster enough to get myself in trouble. I often sign my name as JB熊

  2. Hansel
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 3:18 AM | Permalink

    This is everything I’ve ever wanted.

    • Hansel
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 3:23 AM | Permalink

      Also the coins are exactly the kind of thing people (at least me and the people I know on a personal level who have read your book) want to buy from Tinker’s Packs.

      • TheLazarus
        Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:48 AM | Permalink

        I would love to be able to a Scrooge McDuck into a pile of Four Corners money. So add me to the “yes we will buy coins group”.

  3. Holmelund
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 4:19 AM | Permalink

    Insterested is putting it mildly. Having real four corners coins would be all sorts of awesome.

    Hint: If you want coins taht look lie they have actually seen use, take some and put them in a small sewn shut bag with gravel and small stones. Throw the bag into a washingmachine/drytumbler for a periode of time (An old one that is ok with getting banged up a little.
    We used to do it all the time with our larp coins to make them more authentic, rather than having the straight from the mint look they came with.

  4. Jack Lancaster
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 7:08 AM | Permalink

    I’d certainly be interested in having a whole silver talent…

  5. Posted December 27, 2012 at 7:09 AM | Permalink

    This is so amazingly cool. Thank you so much for putting so much thought into this. I have been genuinely interested in understanding how these currencies work.

    As far as the coins go – good holy God, yes. That would be wonderful. Amazing. Incredible. Phenomenal. Fantastical. All of the above, and more.

  6. babblefish
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:21 AM | Permalink

    I would be interested in coins if they’re used for some secret society or unlock a mysterious level of a arcade game from a very shady part of town

  7. Dracc
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:35 AM | Permalink

    Three times, yes! I would love an iron jot necklace.

  8. lindsayjean
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:49 AM | Permalink

    That would be so cool!

  9. FatRussianKid
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:58 AM | Permalink

    Have you ever thought about the relative worth of a silver talent in say dollars?

    • Emily
      Posted January 13, 2013 at 5:09 AM | Permalink

      I always thought that one iot is more or less a dollar, considering that the story is set in sort of Middle Ages so things were cheaper… I don’t know, this is just a reference for me to not be too lost haha.

  10. Posted December 27, 2012 at 9:05 AM | Permalink

    Actual coins would definitely be almost as much fun as my beloved gold pipes.

    Despite all of Pat’s self denigration, he was extremely easy to work with. His enthusiasm and kindness were ever apparent. It was truly a pleasure to work on this project.

  11. cheech1898
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 9:47 AM | Permalink

    Heck yes… interested as heck. Too many hecks? Eh, what the heck.

  12. saibelle
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 9:52 AM | Permalink

    Coins would be a wonderful thing to add to the Tinkers Packs. I think little things like that help bring a little part of the magic into real life.

  13. MikeThicke
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:15 AM | Permalink

    Pat – So the exchange rates are fixed by law—Commonwealth law presumably. Are the exchange rates the same in Vintas? Do they have their own law to that effect? Is there a treaty or something? If not, how did they agree? Do they periodically revisit the laws? Why aren’t exchange rates allowed to shift according to the demands of the market?

    • Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:36 AM | Permalink

      To answer a couple of your questions:
      “Please be aware that these rates of exchange are the official guidelines set forth in in the 8th amendment of the Quiat Auriam. The true value of exchanged coin may be somewhat different based on the purity, providence, and weight of actual coinage being exchanged.”

      “The treaty that gave the Cealdish government the exclusive right to loan and exchange gold coinage. A right they defend fiercely even to this day.”

      Even in the United States money doesn’t spend the same everywhere. It’s always fun for me to leave New York and feel like my pockets suddenly got deeper.

      • MikeThicke
        Posted December 27, 2012 at 12:51 PM | Permalink

        Interesting—didn’t see that second bit.

  14. JBG
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:20 AM | Permalink

    Add me to the “yes, I’d love to be able to buy currency from the Tinker’s Packs” group. That would be really cool!

    • LordZod
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:01 AM | Permalink

      I want to tell you that I love the sentence “I’d love to be able to buy currency…;” it’s just so seemingly redundant, and yet, not at all.

  15. redwulf
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:34 AM | Permalink

    Not to hop worlds or anything, but many Rothfuss fans may secretly be Tolnedran at heart… :-)

    • Aphrael40
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 12:32 PM | Permalink

      LOL! why yes, yes I can see this:) and add me to the money pile please!

  16. AJ Licata
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:39 AM | Permalink

    Please oh please let us buy the Four Corners coins! I think my little geeky heart would explode with joy. And the Telus wheel pendant is amazingly awesome!

  17. brian199
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:44 AM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,

    I’ve actually thought about getting in touch with you to try and get some made to begin with. That being said I would be interested in at least one of every coin. A cool thing you could do is have someone make a quiz (ie admissions exam) that would then return how much they would owe to enter into the Academy. Then they could buy that much worth of coinage :) Just a little geek in me coming out.

    Sincerely,
    Charles

  18. Matt_P
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:27 AM | Permalink

    Is Vintish Currency based on Spanish Currency around say 1665-1700?

    • Matt_P
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:29 AM | Permalink

      I mean the currency that was used in the New World and not Spain itself.

  19. Mark M
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:57 AM | Permalink

    The coins are a wicked idea especially if they came in sets per currency.

    What I would be very interested in are sets of the social “calling card” rings. It would be a bit more work having to personalize them though, therefore I’d assume the price would be a bit more than some pure metal work.. I would buy a set if they weren’t too crazy.

  20. Sophist
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 12:09 PM | Permalink

    I would very much like to own a silver talent.

  21. Todesangel
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    Of course we are interested! What kind of silly question is this?

  22. IvoryDoom
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 12:54 PM | Permalink

    The coins would definitely be cool.
    And I like the widget, pretty neat actually. Good job Jason and Pat!

    When do you intend to revamp the website? I’m interested in what that would involve and if that would mean expanding what you have here? (besides the widget…obviously, you’re expanding a bit)

    Some friends and I (can you call people you meet on Goodreads friends?) have been discussing putting together a much nicer wiki for your novels since the one at Wikia.com is pretty scary on certain pages, would that be something included in your new design? You know, before we jump into doing something like that for ourselves. ;) Or if we did work on something like that as a group project, would you be interested in giving it a browse?

    Anyway – sorry for going all post happy here.

    Yes to coins!

  23. rmcphail
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:01 PM | Permalink

    Real talents? Awesome. Also curious as to how some of the coins got their name. Royals and bits are probably obvious but talents?

    This whole blog entry just spawned an idea for a Four Corners Starving Student board game. Each player is a student at the University without resources that has to earn money for admission each term. Set up sort of like monopoly or Life but every time you go around the board once you have to answer trivia questions to determine your tuition. Any game makers in the audience?

  24. las08e
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:01 PM | Permalink

    That would be quite nifty! I’d love to be able to have something like that.

  25. Brandon Nichols
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:22 PM | Permalink

    I would love it if the coins were available to purchase. i was wanting to email you and ask you that a couple months ago but forgot. What would be cool, is if you offered all but your favorite one and then the only way to get those would be for you to hand them out at shows or readings and stuff. kind of a… “Hey i like the Question you asked in the Q&A, have a Silver Penny”

  26. Sampsom
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:32 PM | Permalink

    I would definitely buy coins! No doubt about it!

  27. bobjonvon
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:38 PM | Permalink

    I would buy lots.

  28. imtheotherone
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:49 PM | Permalink

    I would love that! It’d be awesome if you could sell a separate stand or frame for them as well so they can be displayed.

  29. sroy2
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:56 PM | Permalink

    Is anyone else at all curious where a strehlaum falls in the mix… if I want to tip a Modegan Courtesan how will I know what is the right amount?

    • sroy2
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 1:58 PM | Permalink

      And yes – I did see the Yllish / Modegan remark! I just can’t help myself!

    • Posted December 30, 2012 at 2:29 PM | Permalink

      In Modeg things are more complicated, with barter being a recent ancestor. Rinne are often paid by weight than by count. While I haven’t been to Modeg myself, I expect any decent business person would be receptive to Cealdish coin. I suspect your Modegan courtesan would have an eye for gifts and trinkets.

  30. SpookyTheRipper
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 2:32 PM | Permalink

    Hi Pat,
    Some time ago I was going through a German translation of one of the book (I cant remember which one), and in the appendix there was a very simple explanatory sheet, something like:

    XX Schimmen = YY Pennien
    XX Pennien = ZZ Jakanniel

    [Currency names are made up, because I didn’t read the book in German and I cant remember how it was translated]

    The question is? Is that sheet true, or BS?

    • Not Today
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 5:09 PM | Permalink

      The German translation has indeed a small explanation about the currency system(s) AND how the different coins look like. I don’t think you can get these information by simply reading the books carefully and since Pat worked closely with the translators (he decided at which point to split the 2nd book) I doubt that this is just some BS.

      • SpookyTheRipper
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:05 PM | Permalink

        That’s what I thought.
        To be honest at first I was a little frustrated because I read the book in English (which is not my native linguage, but who cares, English is the original linguage of the book), and then, in a translation there is more information. All Stuff that I would have loved to know while reading the book.

  31. guerilla_publicist
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 2:49 PM | Permalink

    “Cealdish” is misspelled in the Exchange Rates Table. Not saying that to be a smarmy bastard, as I will probably never create a widget in my entire life.

    • Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:07 PM | Permalink

      I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked at this and I didn’t catch it. I’ll fix it when I get a free moment.

      • Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:55 PM | Permalink

        fixed.

        • guerilla_publicist
          Posted December 30, 2012 at 4:12 PM | Permalink

          Verily, it is so fixed . The widget is complete. Let us dine on mead and suckling pig.

  32. MRK
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 2:59 PM | Permalink

    Nerdgasm!

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

    I cannot offer gold talent pipes, but by golly, I’m moved enough to offer a cloak. Not moved enough to offer a cloak with lots of little pockets, though. That would make it take waaaaaaaay too long (as I’ve explained to my husband more than once, and to myself even more than that).

    Did I mention how happy the conversion table+widget make me? (Hint: the answer is very+additional superlative adjectives.) Thank you!!! :D

  33. DJ
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 4:52 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,
    The other day I was trying to tell someone the difference between a good and a bad fiction novel (authors having equal talent with language).

    I think your story and the widget illustrate this perfectly, I wish I would have thought of it earlier. It’s in the details. Some books skim over things, hoping the reader doesn’t ask “why”, or realize that things don’t make sense. I don’t believe that you have anything in your books that you haven’t obsessed over, and made part of the Four Corners. You may not tell us every detail, because they aren’t important to the story, but you have given “the little things” some thought. I bet you could do a series of these 40min lectures on all manner of things in your books. Just remember the can of worms you opened by posting this (lol, I look forward to the next installment).

    I also just wanted to say thanks for the the story, and am looking forward to the next book.
    Happy Holidays

    • Posted December 30, 2012 at 2:33 PM | Permalink

      I agree wholly. The story does just fine without knowing the details, but the fact that there is a world that exists beyond the walls of the story makes the story that much more rich and real. There are real world concerns and they aren’t just dealt a magic elixir of plotiness. Kvothe is a person that lives in this world, it isn’t a world that exists only so Kvothe can have a story.

  34. He without a clever name
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM | Permalink

    Happy Holidays!

    I would totally buy silver talents. That would be awesome.

  35. leaf101
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 5:05 PM | Permalink

    Interested!!!! very Interested!!!! But what do you estimate the prices being per coin pat???

  36. Ippswich
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 6:21 PM | Permalink

    Yes I would buy the coins!! And an iron jot necklace is a fantastic idea.

  37. Cynicallyric
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 7:02 PM | Permalink

    Shoot ya I’d be interested. People are investing in gold, silver, and copper now anyway, why not have them in the coinage of the Four Corners?

  38. Kiroi Liu
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 7:14 PM | Permalink

    Of course I’ll be interested! come on! I could collect them, show them, wear them even… I could play with them, and I have a few friends who would like to buy and shop things with those coins among us… *O*

  39. MRK
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 7:29 PM | Permalink

    Also, thank you for saving us from Louis CK’s hell of vague amounts of currency. Not that it was technically an issue before, but having the ability to convert into 1 form of currency makes things much easier.

  40. Kashiraja
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:27 PM | Permalink

    shouldn’t it be “provenance” rather than “providence” at the bottom of the widget’s page?
    great to learn more bits about the world! maybe one day we can have an encyclopedia

  41. McGeezer
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:31 PM | Permalink

    I just registered an account with WordPress just so I could comment on how much I love this. I felt an urge to convey how seriously I needed this.
    Oh, and yes I want coins, hell, I want to see a design coin contest it could be amazing!

  42. JohnNevets
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:42 PM | Permalink

    Very Cool!! I thought it was particularly interesting that the Aturan system was base 3 for much of it. I’m glad Pat isn’t a programer other wise we might have ended up with a system based on hexadecimal.
    But this does raise more questions. I admit it’s been a while since I read the books, so some of the answers may be in there, but why with the Cealdish system revolving around base ten, is the Drab 11 shims. Is this to aid in fee collection (not sure how at 4%)? Or, why do 8 Quarter Bits equal a Round instead of 4 in the Vintish system? Is this a translation difference, or does it have to do with the legacy coinage mentioned in the easter egg. Or, how did the Aturan system get to be base 3? Is that a significant number in there society (like the holy trinity amongst Christians), or was it just random?

    Oh how inquiring minds want to know…

    but can wait until the inevitable almanac does come out.

    • uloomini
      Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:51 PM | Permalink

      I probably need to read the books again, too. I went to a wiki for some stuff. Go look up the definition behind span(the length of a week). That may help with the 11 shim thing.

    • Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:09 AM | Permalink

      There should be 4 Quarter Bits to a Round. This was a mistake on my part.

      Shims are not an officially struck coin. Their value is in their weight of iron. For practical purposes 11 Shims are considered to be approximately 1 Drab, but as their weight and quality might vary, their actual value may also.

      • JohnNevets
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:32 AM | Permalink

        Thanks so much for putting this together JB. You did an absolutely fantastic job with this. And thanks for answering a couple of my questions as well. Now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember reading that description of shims. And I’m sorry I pointed out the other one, wasn’t trying to, just figured there was something more creative behind it.

        Once again, Great Job.

        • Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:44 AM | Permalink

          Thank you, and thank you for pointing out the error. It’s better to have been pointed out than have been left wrong!

          • fitzG
            Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:23 AM | Permalink

            In that case, I feel obliged to mention that in one instance, on the currency exchange tables, copper jot is spelt copper jott.

          • Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:02 PM | Permalink

            Thanks, it has been fixed to Jot.

  43. Jaren Kross
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:42 PM | Permalink

    All this time and I just realize I haven’t been to The Tinker’s Packs. Looks like late Christmas shopping time for me…

  44. uloomini
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 8:47 PM | Permalink

    It annoys me that it’s 11 shims to 1 drab. I looked around until I found a reasoning that would make sense for 11. It still annoys me though.

    • fitzG
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:25 AM | Permalink

      It’s not unreasonable, though, is it? Look at the bizarreness of the Imperial system of units. Likely, there is an anecdotal explanation behind it, just like there is for things like Fahrenheit.

  45. lizzylizletitgo
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 10:35 PM | Permalink

    Yay! Thank you Pat and Kuma! I would buy the Cealdish coins from the Tinker’s Packs (but probably not the other ones). I can spend it anywhere in the Four Corners.

  46. episong
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:01 PM | Permalink

    I would love some Four corners money it would make the perfect currency for when I play Baron Munchhausen with my friends.

  47. QVolve
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:51 AM | Permalink

    These would be fantastic! If you don’t have anyone in mind yet, Tom Maringer does a fantastic job minting A Song of Ice and Fire coins.

    No matter where they come from, I’d be all over these!

  48. fitzG
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:20 AM | Permalink

    Awesome! I’ve been up at night lately trying to put together how many reels are in a five reel piece, so it’s good to have the answer readily available.

  49. Alex
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:12 PM | Permalink

    A fantastic addition to the Tinker’s Pack! I’m all for it

  50. Thuruk
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:03 PM | Permalink

    Great widget. :-)

    I would probably buy a silver talent and some change, but don’t make it too expensive. Metal price + working expenses + a bit for worldbuilders would be ok.

  51. thiefofcamorr
    Posted December 29, 2012 at 5:49 AM | Permalink

    I would be so utterly interested and would probably buy three. A set for the friend who got me into your series, a set to keep somewhere very safe, and a set to play and be a dork with :D

  52. wanderwind
    Posted December 29, 2012 at 10:01 AM | Permalink

    Yes. Just… yes.

  53. lodi16b
    Posted December 30, 2012 at 2:16 PM | Permalink

    I’m all in on the currency idea Pat. Make it so…

  54. marcocanov
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 9:35 AM | Permalink

    I would buy one of each kind you sold

  55. harmonic tremors
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 3:48 PM | Permalink

    Real coins would be cool. Then I got to thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if they were part of a board game? OOOO – you should have a contest among your fandom to create a NOTW Board Game. They’d win some totally cool prize, you could sell it in Tinkers Packs and buy tons of goats for Heifer. Although I’m sure you’re totally wiped with the holidays and the fundraiser that the thought of one more project/contest might make your head explode. If so, I hope you didn’t read this… But still, I think it would be cool…

  56. Geekoid
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 7:03 PM | Permalink

    I’m interested in the coins. To see if there is large enough interested in nice coins to mkae it worth while, start a kickstarter.
    Maybe have special coins depending on the level, and possible special coins when certain levels are hit.
    See: Reaper Miniatures.

    I would like to use a set as bennies in my Savage Worlds Campaign. So a set of coins would be nice. Preferably in a nice box. I would pay 100.00 bucks for 25 nice well made coins in a nice well made box.

  57. B
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 10:45 PM | Permalink

    Can the face on the Shim be some guy named Bastardus Shimius… would love a reference to the common 4C reference to shim bastard and the like…

    just a thought – me want fake money from the 4C – I’d put it in a frame!

  58. Rahl
    Posted January 3, 2013 at 11:01 AM | Permalink

    Good god Pat, have you not read the 2 Moist Von Lipwig books, people will go ape over the coins. “They are so much better than pins!”

  59. IwishIwrotethat
    Posted January 21, 2013 at 9:11 AM | Permalink

    How can you be so utterly brilliant and yet so foolishly naive? OF COURSE WE WANT COINS! :D I’d love the ability to buy currency from the tinkers packs

  60. Posted September 25, 2013 at 10:37 AM | Permalink

    I have only just now found this page. Many thanks to the correspondent who sent me the link! I can tell you that coins are being made as I write. We’re starting with the Cealdish copper jots and iron drabs. Patrick now has a large supply of the copper jots in hand and is holding them as rewards for stretch goals on Kickstarter fundraisers. 1020 were made. Some are packaged in a 3×4 sleeve with a descriptive insert that has a place for Pat’s autograph. Others are in printed cloth bags with three jots. There were even some printed paper “rolls” or “bars” with multiples. I have suggested they be put up on Tinker’s Packs. Maybe if more people requested it he would do this. The iron drabs are new and were available for a few days at the Shire Post Mint booth at WorldCon in San Antonio. (Aug28-Sept2)… as singles in a retail package or as sets of three in a printed cloth bag. So far, the only ones that are out in the world are the ones that were purchased there at the con. The iron drabs have a much rougher finish than the jots… in keeping with Patrick’s ideas about how they would look. We’re currently working on a variation of the finish…. a version 1.2 as it were. Talents are up next on the list. Be sure to check in at ShirePost.com from time to time to see if there’s been any progress or new varieties, and be sure to ask Patrick about getting these things available on Tinker’s Packs. Have fun! Tom Maringer. Shire Post Mint.

  61. omegazo
    Posted April 18, 2014 at 12:29 PM | Permalink

    I want every thing about your books, but, I really want to know about the money stuff.
    I’m working it at the university.
    I plaessed. Tank you so much.

    ________
    Jaa na !!

  62. Makro
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 10:42 AM | Permalink

    So this is a pretty old post. Just getting into the books. Quick stupid question, if anybody still monitors this thread:

    In Vintish currency 2 bits == 1 quarter bit. 4 quarter bits == 1 round. I would think a “quarter bit” would be 1/4 of a bit. Should that be “quarter round”? If not, did Pat give a reason why the naming seems odd?

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