Copper was a common, precious pure metal[1] used in Faerûn as the least-valued form of currency in most economies.[3] When used as currency, it was usually cast into copper pieces of a standard weight.[citation needed]
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Description[edit | edit source]
In its natural form, copper had a distinct pink sheen. It was quite soft and famously easy to work in a forge.[1] It had the same weight as steel.[4]
Worth[edit | edit source]
Most coins in Faerûn worked off of the silver and gold standard, with copper pieces (cp) being worth 1/100th of a gold piece (gp) and silver pieces (sp) being worth 1/10 of a GP.[5] Electrum coins were worth 50 cp (1/2 gp),[citation needed] and platinum coins were worth between 500cp (5gp) and 1,000cp (10gp).[5]
Applications[edit | edit source]
In addition to its use in the minting of coins,[3] as well as the creation of ornamental items,[4] copper was a well-known metallurgic amalgamator and neutralizer. Copper containers were never used to store holy water as it would gradually nullify any divine qualities of the solution within a matter of months.[1]
Priests who planned on making an offering with a substance that was forbidden by their faith, could replace the offending item with an amount of copper equal to half its weight.[1]
Mundane Items[edit | edit source]
- Azer were often known to wear apron-like garments made from beaten copper.[6]
- Some Calishite lamps were known to be constructed from copper.[7]
- Copper was one of three metals that Hurricane lamps were known to be constructed with.[8]
- Copper was one of three metals that the spinning tops of Amn were known to be constructed with.[9]
- Wargongs in Shou Lung were typically constructed of copper.[10]
Magic Items[edit | edit source]
- In the land of Zakhara there were known to be automatons constructed almost entirely of copper.[11]
- The pages of the spellbooks Tidings of Conflict and Woe and Shandaril's Workbook were both made from copper plates.[12]
- Magic matches were typically constructed of copper.[13]
- One-way lanterns were typically constructed of copper.[13]
Currency[edit | edit source]
- Copper coins came in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. In Waterdeep they were known as nibs and in Cormyr they were called thumbs.[3][5]
- In the Lands of Intrigue copper coins were known as unarche in Calimport, rada in Almraiven, and spanner in Manshaka.[14]
Appendix[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 178. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 103. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 112. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 26. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (1995). Pages from the Mages. (TSR, Inc), pp. 100, 110. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (1995). Pages from the Mages. (TSR, Inc), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
- ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 53. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
