Coinage

Coins of Waterdeep

Nib

“Copper coin about the size of a thumbnail (1 nib = 1 common copper coin)”

If the example is ¹⁄₂″ side-to-side (thumbnail size), then it’s ⁵⁄₈″ on the diagonal, and the single-surface area is ∼.24 sq.in.

If the example is ³⁄₅″ side-to-side (fits inside taol), then it’s ³⁄₄″ on the diagonal, and the single-surface area is ∼.35 sq.in.

If the example is ³⁄₄″ side-to-side (²⁄₃ of a dragon), then it’s ¹⁵⁄₁₆″ on the diagonal, and the single-surface area is ∼.54 sq.in.

Shard

“Silver coin, slightly smaller than the nib (1 shard = 10 nibs)”

Taol

“Brass coin, about two inches square with a hole large enough for a nib to fit in (1 taol = 200 nibs)”

If the example is 2″ wide, then the hole diameter is ¾″, and the single-surface area is ∼3.4 sq.in.

Dragon

“Gold coin, half again as large as a nib (1 dragon = 100 nibs)”

If the example is ³⁄₄″ square (1¹⁄₂ × ¹⁄₂″ nib), then the single-surface area is ∼⁴⁄₉ sq.in.

If the example is ⁹⁄₁₀″ square (1¹⁄₂ × ³⁄₅″ nib), then the single-surface area is ∼²⁄₃ sq.in.

If the example is 1¹⁄₈″ square (1¹⁄₂ × ³⁄₄″ nib), then the single-surface area is ∼1 sq.in. (Same as standard round D&D coin.)

Sun

“Platinum coin, twice as large as a nib (1 sun = 1,000 nibs)”

Harbor Moon

“Platinum crescent inset with electrum, about three inches long with a hole large enough for a nib to fit in (1 harbor moon = 5,000 nibs)”

If the example is 3″ wide, then it’s 2½″ tall, with tips 2.2″ apart, a ¼″ square hole, and single-surface area of ∼4.5 sq.in.

Standard D&D coins

A standard [d20] coin weighs about a third of an ounce, so fifty coins weigh a pound.

Coin	cp	sp	ep	gp	pp
Copper (cp)	1	‌1⁄10	‌1⁄50	‌1⁄100	‌1⁄1000
Silver (sp)	10	1	‌1⁄5	‌1⁄10	‌1⁄100
Electrum (ep)	50	5	1	‌1⁄2	‌1⁄20
Gold (gp)	100	10	2	1	‌1⁄10
Platinum (pp)	1000	100	20	10	1

Background

Original D&D—“Basic” through Rules Cyclopedia—coins have an encumbrance of ∼‌¹⁄₁₀ pound each.

More specifically, encumbrance (enc.) is a combination of the weight and clumsiness of gear measured in coin-weight equivalents (cn), where 1 𝖼𝗇 equals approximately ‌¹⁄₁₀ of a pound in weight and awkwardness. For example, a ‌¹⁄₂ lb wineskin filled with a quart of water/wine (∼ 2 lb), would only weigh ∼ 25 𝖼𝗇, but has a total enc. of 30 𝖼𝗇.

Other units

A d20/D&D mile (𝗆𝗂^𝖣) is 6,000 feet, and thus apparently a fantasy equivalent to the ≈ 6,076-foot nautical mile rather than the 5,280-foot land mile.

A nautical mile (𝖭𝗆𝗂) is one minute of latitude (‌¹⁄₆₀1°), making Earth’s meridional circumference 21,600 𝖭𝗆𝗂. Since Earth is not a perfect sphere, the actual length of a minute of latitude varies between 1,813 𝗆 and 1,861 𝗆 with a de jure average of 1,852 𝗆 (≈ 6076.12-ft).

The original intent for the meter was to be one ten-millionth of 90° latitude, such that 40,000 ㎞ would equal Earth’s meridional circumference. The best measurements of the 1800s were slightly off and Earth’s actual m. circ. in standard meters is ≈ 40,008 ㎞.

From this one can extrapolate that a standard D&D fantasy world could be:

1. a 21,600 𝖭𝗆𝗂 ≈ 40,008 ㎞ m.circ. spheroid like Earth,
2. a 21,600 𝗆𝗂^𝖣 ≈ 39,502 ㎞ m.circ. spheroid with 2½% less surface area than Earth, or
3. a 21,600 𝗆𝗂^𝖣 = 40,000 ㎞ m.circ. sphere with D&D feet/inches etc. 1¼% longer than standard feet/inches.

Greek

1 million (∼mile) = 5,000 podes

1 stade (∼furlong) = 600 podes

1 plethron = 100 podes (∼feet)

Roman

1 mille passus (∼mile) = 8 stadia = 1,000 passus = 6,000 pedes

1 stadium (∼furlong) = 125 passus = 625 pedes

1 passus (∼pace) = 5 pedes (∼feet)