Gold dragons, or Golden dragons,[1] are coins used in Westeros.
About
Golden dragons bear the face of the king in whose time they were minted, as well as his name.[2][3] The other side of the gold coin displays the three-headed Targaryen dragon sigil.[4]
Golden dragons are more frequently used by rich merchants and noble lords and ladies, whereas smallfolk, who do not have such riches, tend to exchange copper and silver coins.[2] Coins can be debased by clipping or shaving, but if someone notices the gold dragon they receive has been shaved, another few silvers and a fistful of coppers can make up for the lost weight.[2]
History
The golden dragon is the most valuable coin of the current currency system of Westeros, which was established shortly after the unification of the Seven Kingdoms following Aegon's Conquest,[5] and used through the whole Targaryen dynasty.[2]
During his war against the Faith of the Seven, King Maegor I Targaryen paid one golden dragon for the head of any unrepentant Warrior's Son.[6][5]
In 120 AC, Lord Corlys Velaryon offered a reward of 10,000 gold dragons to any man who could lead him to Ser Qarl Correy, who had killed Corlys's heir, Laenor Velaryon, in a quarrel.[7]
During the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen, it was treason to own a Blackfyre gold dragon coin, and twice as treasonous to pass it to another, but someone who acquired one could melt it down to recover the gold.[3]
During the wedding tourney at Whitewalls in 212 AC, only 30 dragons were promised for whoever came in second.[3]
The relative value of the gold dragon coin and its denominations has changed over time, due to various economic fluctuations of inflation and deflation (e.g., war-time versus times of peace, failed harvests, etc.). For instance, in 209 AC, a time of peace and plenty, Duncan the Tall received more than three gold dragons for his palfrey,[2] but during the War of the Five Kings, both Brienne of Tarth[8] and Tom of Sevenstreams[9] consider one gold dragon to be a fair price for a horse in the war-struck riverlands.
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Eddard Stark, the new Hand of the King, finds out the Iron Throne is more than six million dragons in debt, with the biggest part of this debt, three million dragons, owed to House Lannister, the rest to Mace Tyrell, the Iron Bank of Braavos, several Tyroshi trading cartels, and to the Faith of the Seven.[10]
King Robert I Baratheon is a prodigious spender, and sets the rewards for the Hand's tourney in 298 AC at 40,000 golden dragons to the winner of the joust, 20,000 golden dragons to the runner-up, 20,000 dragons to the winner of the melee, and 10,000 dragons to the winner of the archery competition.[10] These prizes are exceptionally high, due to Robert's generous nature.[11]
A Clash of Kings
The Lysene pirate Salladhor Saan, who has two dozen ships under his command, demands thirty thousand gold dragons a month for his service as a sellsail to Stannis Baratheon.[12]
A Storm of Swords
When Ser Jaime Lannister escapes from captivity in Riverrun, Edmure Tully promises one thousand gold dragons to whoever would capture the Kingslayer.[13]
During the War of the Five Kings, three hundred gold dragons represent a formidable ransom for a knight, even if he belongs to a large noble house,[14] while 100 gold dragons represent a reasonable ransom for a younger son of a noble family.[15]
A Feast for Crows
By 300 AC, the maidenhead of a serving girl, Rosey, is priced at one dragon,[16] while the Crown's debt to the Faith was established to be a total of 900,674 golden dragons.[17]
Quotes
Trivia
- In the episode "The Wolf and the Lion" of the television series Game of Thrones, Petyr Baelish, during the Hand's tourney, says that he could buy twelve barrels of expensive Dornish wine with a hundred golden dragons.
References
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Hedge Knight.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 20, Eddard IV.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Summerhall (June 19, 1999).
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 44, Jaime VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Epilogue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.