Most of the gorean system of currency that you read about is centered around the coin system although there is almost anything imaginable used for bartering and trading so in essence about anything can be used at times, from coins to jewels and furs.Currency
Each city mints their own coins, "one at a time by a hammer pounding on the flat cap of a die. Incidentally, Gorean coins are not made to be stacked and accordingly, because of the possible depth of the relief and the consequent liberties accorded to the artist, Gorean coin is almost always more beautiful than the machine-milled, flat, uniform coins of Earth. Some Gorean coins are drilled, incidentally, to allow stringing, the coins of Tharna, for example; Turian coins, and most others, are not."
"There is little standardization in these matters, for much depends on the actual weights of the coins and the quantities of precious metals, certified by the municipal stamps, contained in the coins. Sometimes, too, coins are split and shaved. Further, the debasing of coinage is not unknown. Scales, and rumors, it seems, are often used by coin merchants. One of the central coins on Gor is the golden tarn disk of Ar, against which many cities standardize their own gold piece. Other generally respected coins on Gor tend to be the silver tarsk of Tharna, the golden tarn disk of Ko-ro-ba, the golden tarn of Port Kar, the latter particularly on the western Vosk, in the Tamber Gulf region, and a few hundred pasangs to the north and south of the Vosk's delta."
Coins
For example, a 'double tarn' is twice the weight of a 'tarn'. It seems there are usually eight tarsk bits in a copper tarsk, and that these are the result of cutting a circular coin in half, and then the halves in half, and then each of these halves in half. An analogy would be cutting the round, flat Gorean loaves of Sa-Tarna
bread into eight pieces. There are approximately something like one hundred copper tarsks in a silver tarsk in many cities. Similarly, something like ten silver tarsks would apparently be equivalent, depending on weights, etc., to one gold piece, say, a single 'tarn'. Accordingly on this approach, the equivalencies, very
approximately and probably only for certain cities, would be eight tarsk bits to the copper tarsk, one hundred copper tarsks to a silver tarsk, and ten silver tarsks to a gold piece, a single tarn. On this approach, there would be, literally, 8,000 tarsk bits in a single gold piece.
Magician of Gor, page 469 (footnote)By this time I had followed Harold over to a corner of the courtyard wall, which was heaped high, backed into the corner, with precious metals, plates, cups; bowls of jewels; necklaces and bracelets; boxes of coins and, in heavy, wooden crates, numerous stacked cubes of silver and gold, each stamped with it's weight, for the palace of a Ubar is also the mint of a city, where its coins are struck one at a time by a hammer pounding on the flat cap of a die. Incidentally, Gorean coins are not made to be stacked and accordingly, because of the possible depth of the relief and the consequent liberties accorded to the artist, Gorean coin is almost always more beautiful than the machine-milled, flat, uniform coins of Earth. Some Gorean coins are drilled, incidentally, to allow stringing, the coins of Tharna, for example; Turian coins, and most others, are not."
Nomads of Gor page 251The merchant turned to me. He handed me a silver tarsk from the purse. "You need give me nothing," I said. "It was not important." "Take, if you will," said he, "as a token of my gratitude, this silver tarsk." I took it. "Thank you," I said. Several of the men about, striking their shoulders in the Gorean fashion, applauded the merchant. He had been very generous. A silver tarsk is, to most Goreans, a coin of considerable value. In most exchanges it is valued at a hundred copper tarsks, each of which valued, commonly, at some ten to twenty tarsk bits. Ten silver tarsks, usually, is regarded as the equivalent of one gold piece, of one of the high cities. To be sure, there is little standardization in these matters, for much depends on the actual weights of the coins and the quantities of precious metals, certified by the municipal stamps, contained in the coins. Sometimes, too, coins are split and shaved. Further, the debasing of coinage is not unknown. Scales, and rumors, it seems, are often used by coin merchants. One of the central coins on Gor is the golden tarn disk of Ar, against which many cities standardize their own gold piece. Other generally respected coins on Gor tend to be the silver tarsk of Tharna, the golden tarn disk of Ko-ro-ba, the golden tarn of Port Kar, the latter particularly on the western Vosk, in the Tamber Gulf region, and a few hundred pasangs to the north and south of the Vosk's delta.
Rogue of Gor page 155Copper tarsk bit - Worth 1/4th to 1/10th of a copper tarsk bit, although 1/8 is the most common. The coin is scored with deep grooves and can be snapped into 8 and sometimes 10 pieces, 8 being the most common.
So for example a copper tarsk disk scored into 8 pieces - 1/2 of the copper tarsk bit would be 4 bits, 1/4 of the copper tarsk bit would be 2 bits or 3/4 of a copper tarsk bit would be 6 bits, each scored section being worth a tarsk bit.Copper tarsk - 100 copper tarsks equal a silver tarskOne of the guardsmen opened her mouth, not gently, and retrieved the coin, a rather large one, a tarsk bit. Ten such coins make a copper bit. A hundred copper tarsks make a silver tarsk.
Explorers of Gor page 54One of the guardsmen opened her mouth, not gently, and retrieved the coin, a rather large one, a tarsk bit. Ten such coins make a copper bit. A hundred copper tarsk's make a silver tarsk.
Explorers of Gor page 54Copper tarn - 40 copper tarn disk's equal a silver tarsk
Accordingly on this approach, the equivalencies, very
approximately and probably only for certain cities, would be eight tarsk bits to the copper tarsk, one hundred copper tarsks to a silver tarsk, and ten silver tarsks to a gold piece, a single tarn. On this approach, there would be, literally, 8,000 tarsk bits in a single gold piece.
Magician of Gor, page 469 (footnote)Silver tarsk - A single silver tarsk is worth 40 copper tarns or 10 silver tarsks is valued at a gold tarn disk . Probably the most commonly used coin on gor due to it's in between value.Hup wildly thrust a small, stubby, knobby hand into his pouch and hurled a coin, a copper tarn disk, to Kuurus who caught it
Assassin of Gor, page 13The tarsk is a silver coin, worth forty copper tarn disks.
Assassin of Gor, page 160Silver tarn - equal to 10 silver tarskThe tarsk is a silver coin, worth forty copper tarn disks.
Assassin of Gor, page 160"Dumbfounded I reached in my pouch and handed her a coin, a silver tarsk."
Assassin of Gor, page 76Gold tarn disk - A common high value coin used on Gor. The gorean standard of coinage seemed based on the gold tarn from Ar where their gold tarn disk is highly valued for its consistent quality and purity.Actually, fifty silver tarn disks was an extremely high price, and indicated the girl was probably of high caste as well as extremely beautiful. An ordinary girl, of low caste, comely but untrained, might, depending on the market, sell for as little as five or as many as thirty tarn disks.
Outlaw of Gor, page 193Golden tarn disk (double weight) - This is the highest denomination in gorean coinage, equal to 2 gold tarn disks. Designed similar to the gold tarn disk but minted double thickness.Accordingly on this approach, the equivalencies, very
approximately and probably only for certain cities, would be eight tarsk bits to the copper tarsk, one hundred copper tarsks to a silver tarsk, and ten silver tarsks to a gold piece, a single tarn. On this approach, there would be, literally, 8,000 tarsk bits in a single gold piece.
Magician of Gor, page 469 (footnote)Without speaking, the man took twenty pieces of gold, tarn disks of Ar, of double weight, and gave them to Kuurus
Assassin of Gor, page 4
Currency Equivalents 8 tarsk bits = 1 copper tarsk 100 copper tarsk = silver tarsk 40 copper tarn = silver tarsk 10 silver tarn = gold tarn disk 2 gold tarn
disk =double gold tarn 8000 tarsk
bits =gold tarn disk
The value of the coins and what may be purchased Five pieces of gold, in its way, incidentally, is also a fortune on Gor. On could live, for example, in many cities, although not in contemporary Ar, with its press on housing and shortages of food, for years on such resources.
Magicians of Gor, pages 468“Boy!” cried the Forkbeard. The boy looked at him. The Forkbeard threw him a golden tarn disk. “Buy a bosk and sacrifice it,” said the Forkbeard. “Let there be much feasting on the farms of the Inlet of Green Cliffs!”
Marauders of Gor page 150Behind the desk, on the wall, there was posted a list of prices. They were quite high. I did not think that those were normal prices. If they were, I did not see how the inn could manage to be competitive. I struck the keeper's desk twice more. There was a tharlarion oil lamp hanging on three chains from the ceiling, to my right, above the desk. Sample items from the list were as follows:
Bread and Paga - 2 Copper Tarsk
Other Food - 3-5 Copper Tarsk
Lodging - 10 Copper Tarsk
Blankets (2) - 2 Copper Tarsk
Bath - 1 Copper Tarsk
Bath girl - 2 Copper Tarsk
Sponge, oil and strigil - 1 Copper Tarsk
Girl for the night - 5 Copper Tarsk
Tarn, Meat and Cot - 5 Copper Tarsk
T., Greens and Stable - 2 Copper Tarsk
A comment, or two, might be in order on this list of prices. First, it will be noted that they are not typical. In many inns, depending on the season, to be sure, and the readiness of the keeper to negotiate, one can stay for as little as two or three copper tarsks a day, everything included, within reason, of course, subject to some restraint with respect to paga, and such. Also, the bath girl, and the sponge, oil and strigil, in most establishments, come with the price of the bath itself. The prices on the list on the wall seemed excessive, perhaps to a factor of five or more. The prices, of course, were in terms of copper tarsks. For purposes of comparison, in many paga taverns, one may have paga and food, and a girl for the alcove, if one wants, for a single copper tarsk. Dancers, to be sure, sometimes cost two.
Renegades of Gor pages 51-52A golden tarn disk was a small fortune. It would buy one of the great birds themselves, or as many as five slave girls.
Tarnsman of Gor, page 191In many paga taverns, one may have paga and food, and a girl for the alcove, if one wants for a single copper tarsk. Dancers, to be sure, sometimes cost two.
Renegades of Gor, pages 51-52Nela was an expensive girl, through there were pools where the girls cost as much as a silver tarn disk. The tarsk is an silver coin, worth forty copper tarn disks. All the girl's in the Pool of Blue Flowers cost the same, except novices in training who would go for ten or fifteen copper tarn disks. There were dozens of pools in the vast, spreading Capacian Baths. In some of the larger pools the girls went as cheaply as one copper tarn disk. For the fee one was entitled to use the girl as he wished for as long as he wished, his use, of course, limited by the hours of the pool's closing.
Assassin of Gor Page 160-161Actually, fifty silver tarn disks was an extremely high price, and indicated the girl was probably of high caste as well as extremely beautiful. An ordinary girl, of low caste, comely but untrained, might, depending on the market, sell for as little as five or as many as thirty tarn disks.
Outlaw of Gor, page 193"Soup!" I called, raised my hand. I purchased from him, for a copper tarsk, a bowl of soup, thick with shreds of hot bosk and porous chunks of boiled sul.
Beasts of Gor page 51Jewels or Stones - among other items are also used for exchanges as the example below shows, so coins weren't the only thing used in the monetary system in gor.
Other items used for exchange
These gem stones are mined, cut and polished. The sapphires mined in Schendi are prized throughout GorOther items - almost anything could be bartered with for exchange, in this example below furs from a Man of the red hunters."I will give you two of the stones from this scabbard for her," I said. Actually I had no idea of the value of the stones, and didn't know if the offer was a sensible one or not. In annoyance, looking over the rings of Targo and the sapphires which hung from his ears. I knew he would be a much better judge of their value then I.
"Preposterous," said Targo, shaking his head vehemently.
I gathered that he was not bluffing, for how could he have known that I did not know the true value of the stones? How could he know that I had not purchased them and had them set in the scabbard myself?
Outlaws of Gor page 193-194"I am prepared to offer much," I told her. "I am prepared to offer weights of gold." The weight is ten Gorean stone. A Gorean stone is approximately four pounds in weight.
(Bosk was trying to barter with the panther woman called Mira for Talena, daughter of Marcus of Ar whom Bosk once was Free Companion to)
Hunters of Gor pg 90Strange and cruel are the ways of Gor. I thought, where six small green stones, weighing perhaps scarcely two ounces, and a damaged helmet, could purchase a human being.
Outlaws of Gor page 196
(side note: this girl that was purchased with the 6 small stones and a damaged helmet was formerly the Tatrix of Tharna, Lara)Before Suleiman, now there lay five stones, three sereem diamonds, red, sparkling, white flecked, and two opals, one a common sort, milky in color, and the other an unusual flame opal, reddish and blue. Opals are not particularly valuable stones on Earth, but they are much rarer on Gor; these were excellent specimens, cut and polished into luminescent ovoids; still, of course, they did not have the value of the diamonds.
"What would you like for these five stones?" he asked.
"A hundred weights of date bricks," I said.
"That is to high," he said.
Tribesman of Gor page 92The hunter pulled a pelt from the bundle of furs he carried. It was snowy white, and thick, the winter fur of a two stomached snow lart. It almost seemed to glisten. The slaver's man appreciated it's value. Such a pelt could sell in Ar for half a silver tarsk. He took the pelt and examined it. The snow lart hunts in the sun. The food in the second stomach can be held almost indefinitely. It is filled in the fall and must last the lart through the winter's night, which last months, the number of months depending on the latitude of the individual territory. It is not a large animal. It is about ten inches high and weighs between eight and twelve pounds. It is mammalian, and has four legs. It eats bird eggs and preys on the leem, a small arctic rodent, some five to ten ounces in weight which hibernates during the winter.
"Not enough," said the slaver's man. The hunter grunted. He had guessed this. I did not think the slaver's man was out to defraud the hunter. For one thing, the fellow, this far south, probably had some conception of the values of the furs. For another thing the hunters of the north, through a generally kind, peaceable folk, except with animals, think little of killing. They are inured to it. As hunters they live with blood and death.
The hunter drew forth from the bundle of furs two tiny felts of the leem. These were brown, the summer coat of the animals.
"Look," said the slaver's man, gesturing at the two girl's, the blonde and dark haired girl, "Two beauties."
The hunter drew forth two more pelts of the leem.
"Not enough," said the slaver's man.
The hunter grunted and bent down, retying the bundle of furs. He picked up the bundle and began to leave.
"Wait!" laughed the slaver's man. "They are yours."
Beasts of Gor pages 74-75
