Copper Piece (CP), Silver Piece (SP), Electrum Piece (EP), Gold Piece (GP), Platinum Piece (PP)
1 Platinum Piece = 10 Gold Pieces
1 Gold Piece = 10 Silver Pieces
1 Silver Piece = 10 Copper Pieces
Electrum pieces are not commonly used; one is worth five silver pieces.
A standard coin weighs approximately one-third of an ounce, so fifty coins weigh about one pound.
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DND Currency Purchasing Power Comparison Table (For reference only):
1 Copper Piece = 1 lb of wheat
2 Copper Pieces = 2 lbs of flour or one chicken
5 Copper Pieces = 1 lb of salt
1 Silver Piece = 1 lb of iron or 1 sq yard of canvas
5 Silver Pieces = 1 lb of copper or 1 sq yard of cotton cloth
1 Gold Piece = 1 lb of ginger or one goat
2 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of cinnamon or pepper or one sheep
3 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of cloves or one pig
5 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of silver or 1 sq yard of linen
10 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of silk or one cow
15 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of saffron or one ox
50 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of gold
500 Gold Pieces = 1 lb of platinum
Note: The above is from Chapter 6 of the Dungeon Master's Guide, 2024 Edition.
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Almost every major power in Faerûn has its own currency: coins minted in their own unique styles, which carry both the value of the metal material and the value of the influence they represent.
Most coins with pure composition and standard weight can circulate throughout the continent, though not every city-state or nation goes to the trouble of minting every type of coin.
Some of the most common and widely used coins in the Realms are summarized below. Each group below is listed by value: copper, silver, electrum, gold, and (not always present) platinum.
Regardless of where the coins originate, most people traveling in Faerûn use the names established at the time of their issuance, with the exception of Zhentil Keep—for some reason, every Zhentil coin has its own corresponding vulgar nickname.
Amn: Fander, Taran, Centaur, Danter, Roldon
Cormyr: Thumb, Falcon, Blue Eye, Golden Lion, Tricrown
Sembia: Steelpence (an iron coin), Raven (triangular), Blue Eye (rhombus), Noble (pentagonal)
Silverymoon: Glint, Shield, Sword, Dragon, Unicorn
Waterdeep: Nib, Shard, Sambar, Dragon, Sun
Zhentil Keep: Fang ("dung-piece"), Talon/Naal ("flea-bit"), Tarenth ("hardhammer"), Glory ("weeping wolf"), Platinum Glory ("flat metal gem")
Silverymoon also mints two special coins: the "Moon" and the "Eclipsed Moon."
The Moon is a bright blue crescent-shaped coin worth 2 Unicorns in Silverymoon and its surrounding settlements, but only 1 Unicorn elsewhere. The Eclipsed Moon is shaped like an electrum Moon set against a darker silver shadow, combining to form a circular coin. It is worth 5 Unicorns in the city, but only 2 Unicorns elsewhere.
Waterdeep also has its own coins. The "Taol" is a square brass coin worth 2 Dragons in the city, but its value is rarely recognized by those who do not trade with Waterdeep. People trading in Waterdeep usually exchange Taols for standard coins before traveling elsewhere.
The "Harbor Moon" is a palm-sized crescent-shaped platinum coin inlaid with electrum, worth 50 Dragons in the city and 30 Dragons elsewhere. It is typically used for the purchase of large quantities of goods, which is the origin of its name. Both the Taol and the Harbor Moon are pierced to allow users to string multiple coins together.
Baldur's Gate set the standard for minting "Trade Bars." Trade Bars are metal ingots (usually silver) used in place of large amounts of coinage or gems for high-value transactions. The most common Trade Bar weighs 5 pounds and is 6 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick, with each bar worth 25 gp.