Gold Coins

Form of currency used in West Heart

Manufacturing process

Metal casting and smithing is a staple of most ancient and medieval civilizations. The process is a skill that many spent years perfecting. Coinage requires even more skill and involves a system of artists, apprentices, and journeyman blacksmiths. The process would begin with the casting or hammering of oven-heated metal into round blank coins. These blanks were handled with tongs and usually carried by an apprentice to the more experienced striker of the coin. The striker then utilized two dies, typically made of iron or bronze. Each die featured one of the desired coin imprints, one for the coin’s obverse, or front, and one for the reverse. These are the most important tools in the process and carry with them an entire system of artists dedicated to their production, as an experienced blacksmith could use up to 1,000 dies per year. The blank was placed between the two dies and struck to imprint the design onto the coin. A good smithing operation could produce around 20,000 strikes in one day.

Significance

Economic

Item type

Currency & Deeds

Manufacturer

Blacksmith's Guild

Owning Organization

Elturgard

Rarity

Controlled substance

Base Price

1gp

Raw materials & Components

charcoal, gold ingots

Tools

anvil, forge, smith's hammer, tongs, casting dies,