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.
