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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sepulchrave II" data-source="post: 3370906" data-attributes="member: 4303">VALUE OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE HARHALL CAMPAIGNI've attempted to remain as close as possible to the actual values of objects as they occur in charters, writs etc.: there is, of course, enormous variation, and some speculative values are inevitable. To try to condition the players to think beyond a set cash value (e.g., in most campaigns a 50 ft, hemp rope will always cost 1 gp), I drew up a list of equivalences: my efforts were partially successful, but it's hard to break the mind-set.CashSilver and gold coins were the only metals used to mint coins. Silver was rare, and gold exceedingly so – so rare, in fact that it would never even be seen by most people during their lifetime. Most transactions were made through barter.SilverA silver penny weighed (in theory) 24 grains (around 1.55 grams): there were 240 pennies in a contemporary (Troy) pound; almost 300 in a modern (Avoirdupois) pound. Which is to say an Anglo-Saxon silver piece weighs about 1/6 of a standard D&D silver piece.The value of a shilling varied between 4 and 6 pennies during the Anglo-Saxon period: for the sake of convenience, I have assumed a shilling to be worth 5 pence.GoldA gold mancus (around 4.33 grams) was theoretically worth 30 silver pennies: because gold coins were around 80% pure, this means that gold approximately retains its standard D&D value compared to silver (x10), which is convenient. An Anglo-Saxon gold mancus weighs about half as much as a standard D&D gold piece.In practice, other coins were in circulation (Frankish, Byzantine etc.), and the relative value of metals fluctuated just as it does today. Gold was often prized for its jewelery value above its use as a coin. In all cases, the weight of the metal is more important than the actual coin.Twenty-five Pounds of Silver, or Two Hundred Gold Mancuses• A gold altar cup of finest workmanship, weighing a pound and inlayed with precious stones.• A drekar with thirty oars and sail (70 ft, long); or two smaller knarrs (each 50 ft. long).• Twenty hides (2400 acres) of good arable land and pasture.• A fine mead-hall, 80 feet long, with carved columns, as befits an earl or king.• Goods typically bequeathed to an archbishop by a king upon his death.• Thrimlich, a sword of unsurpassed workmanship, with a gold pommel and filigreed scabbard.• Ten pounds of fine silk• Two pounds of saffron• A small stone chapel (40 ft. long)• The weregild payable for the unlawful killing of a landed thane.• The morning-gift rendered by an earl to his bride.• Three holy books, with vellum pages and ornamented with gold leaf.• The total value of assets owned by a typical thane.One Hundred and Twenty Shillings• A team of eight oxen and a plough.• A sword of fine (MW) workmanship with an ivory hilt; or three swords of lesser quality.• Value of land owned by a wealthy free farmer (ceorl)• A mail byrnie• A brace of trained peregrines, w/ cowls, tethers etc.• A small hall or a longhouse, as befits a wealthy ceorl or a thane (50 ft long).• A mill, with good querns• The wages of a fine craftsman for a year, or a master for a quarter.• A fine three-year old palfrey (+2 Con), with saddle, bridle and stirrups; or two lesser yearlings without.• Four slaves: man, wife and two children.• A gift bequeathed by a wealthy thane to a loyal retainer for faithful service.• Payment made between lords for accepting the service of a ceorl.• Fine imposed upon a thane for adultery, or for neglecting his fyrd duty; also the fine for abducting a nun from a nunnery.• The weregild for the murder of a Welsh tribute-payer with 1 hide.• Five beaver pelts.• Land taxes owed by Luta every year for her estates.• Total value of assets owned by a poor free farmer (gebur)• A skiff or keelboat with a sail, 30 feet long.Twelve Shillings• A fine wool cloak, trimmed with fox fur• A spear and shield• A good hunting dog, 1 year old• A cow; four swine or six sheep• Reward for catching a known outlaw• Annual rent paid by a poor free farmer (gebur) for forty acres.• Crafted leather goods weighing 15-20 lb.: a saddle, leather armour etc.• A lock, chain, shackles, stirrups or other wrought iron goods weighing 1-2 lb.• A brace of sparrowhawks• Money paid to a warrior (with spear, shield and leather jerkin) for a month's service.• A longbow of best Norwegian yew and a quiver of 12 arrows• Timber-framed wattle cot for a poor tenant farmer• A tent for two men• Carpenter's, shipwright's or cooper's tools, including axe, chisels, knives, mallet and adze in a leather case• A rowing boat (10 ft. long) and oar• A pound of cinnamon, ginger, pepper, cloves or mace• A cart with 2 wheelsTo the Value of a Shilling• Common house dog, well-trained• A cloak, weatherstained but serviceable• 75 ft. of flax rope• A wool blanket• Three fleeces• An ox-horn • Lodging for a thane for a night with meat, cheese and ale, and stabling for his horse• A gallon of fine wine or mead• Annual land tax for half a hide• A dagger with a leather scabbard• A good leather belt with a brass buckle• A small barrel (10 gallons capacity)• Monk's or peasant's garb• An axe balanced for throwing• A hunter's shortbow • A dozen arrows for same (no quiver)• A round of cheese (10 lb.)Pennyworth Goods and Services• A goose, four ducks or a dozen chickens• Lodging for a night with an evening meal of bread and soup• A dozen loaves of bread• Dried fruits and nuts and smoked meat for one day's march• A gallon of ale• A dozen tallow candles• A cloth sack• A quart of honey• Annual tax paid by all families to Rome ("Peter's Penny")</blockquote>

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