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: A very interesting article. : It is important to note several things, though. First, currency values differed from city to city. The exchange rate between copper and silver tarsks is not universal. Second, the same coin of different cities has different values as well, due to the presence of coin shaving and debasing. The benchmark coins, such as the silver tarsk of Tharna, or the gold tarns of Port Kar or Ar, were recognized as coinage standards above those of lesser cities. : Also, I am not certain that I would place the values exactly as Mazah Napa has done. The economic principles underlying currency valuations on Gor are different on Earth. For instance, there is no paper currency on Gor, although the use of credits and notes is a common practice (such as in Explorers). Also, there are examples of slaves being purchased for astronomical prices in the books (such as Assassins), so perhaps a gold tarn is not worth quite as much as estimated here. : Nevertheless, Mazah has pointed out an oft-forgotten fact: A gold tarn is a LOT of money. The average peasant on Gor has probably not even seen one. It makes the tavern patron who buys a cup of paga and gives a gold disk as payment seem rather foolish. No one would ever pay that much for a drink. : Likewise, it makes you wonder if the slaves that are bought and sold online in taverns are extremely expensive. I've seen slaves bought for handfuls of gold tarns. Obviously, the value of these slaves is not equal to the amount being paid. Still, when gold exists only in the minds of the patron, there is little reason to be miserly. : If nothing else, take from this discussion a wariness towards the next Stranger you see in a tavern buying his drinks with gold. Likely he has no idea what Gor is really about. : Be well. : Xern

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