Chapter 184: Lingol's Expedition (VI) The Value of the Golden Dragon

Ringor did not choose to go to Eagle's Nest Castle with the three mercenary knights. For him, going to Eagle's Nest Castle was of little significance. He planned to go directly to Storm's End to see what Duke Baratheon wanted to do. Something.

"There are more and more people." Lei Geng looked cautiously at the camps one after another next to his own camp. After more than ten days of trekking, they finally arrived at Storm's End Castle. When the camp was set up in the nearby forest, many mercenaries and wandering knights summoned by Duke Baratheon had already gathered here, as well as peasant soldiers from villages under the jurisdiction of the stag.

There were only a few knights with tents like Lingol and others, and most of them could only rest on tree stumps.

Only those mercenaries who were of a decent size had fairly clean and habitable camps.

After they arrived, more and more people gathered around the area. Even the blacksmiths and merchants of Storm's End couldn't bear the loneliness and hurried out to make a lot of money.

But before that, Ringol and the others made a small profit. On the way to Storm's End, the three teenagers successfully won an order from a businessman to escort him with six horses, three complete sets of armor and weapons. Head to the market town near Storm's End.

This trip earned one hundred and twenty silver deer. Ellarion also killed two bandits on the way, and actually found two golden dragons from them.

Unfortunately, after settling down for inspection, Ringol regretfully told his two companions that the two golden dragons were actually not very valuable.

The way to judge is very simple. One of the two golden dragon heads is the portrait of Rhaenyra, and the other is the portrait of "The Usurper" Aegon. The gold coins minted in those months, because the two "kings" were not very good. As a human being, there are many impurities mixed in during the casting process.

So after the war, the batch of forged golden dragons also lost their due status. At that time, Ringor patiently explained various common techniques in Westeros to two partners who obviously did not listen carefully. currencies.

The complicated copper coins are much more stable in comparison. The smallest denomination is the copper plate, which is also the currency that most people use daily. In this harvest-rich midsummer year, a copper plate can buy a sausage or a few. of flour. Two copper plates are equivalent to one copper cent. Copper cent coins are also the most commonly used type of copper coins. Together with copper plates, they dominate the farmers' market. In addition, there are several rarer copper coins, such as four copper cents can be exchanged for one copper coin. Wheat, two bronze wheat can be exchanged for one bronze star.

Slightly wealthier merchants, knights and lords more commonly use silver coins and gold coins. There are two main types of silver coins, with the coat of arms of Aegon the Conqueror's friend and Hand of the King Oris Baratheon - in fact It is also the silver decorated with the coat of arms of the Storm King. The deer is also the most widely circulated type of silver coin, with a value equivalent to fifty-six copper cents. There is also a silver moon coin with the moon engraved on it. This kind of silver coin has less circulation. According to the announcement of the mint and the chancellor of the finance, , this silver coin is equivalent to seven silver deer. In this era, there was only one kind of gold coin in circulation: the golden dragon, with the three-headed dragon of the Targaryen family on one side and the king's head on the other. The official value of a gold dragon is 210 silver deer.

But the golden dragon is not the only existing gold coin in Westeros. There are still people in the Riverlands who use the gold scale coins left by the Fairmen family, because they are rare and the Fairmen family lives up to its name and is willing to use materials for gold coins. , so the value of one gold balance coin is roughly equivalent to three gold dragons. The gold coins minted by the Gardener family of the Riverbend Kingdom will still appear in the southern market. However, the Gardener family is not as honest as the Fairer family. The gold coins are slightly smaller and are only worth half a gold dragon.

In Dorne, although the Golden Sun coins once minted by the Martell family still exist, in the early days, although Dorne resisted the unification of the Targaryens, it did not resist the system and currency they brought, so the Golden Sun The coins were also withdrawn from circulation early, and most of them have now been melted down to cast golden dragons or other gold objects.

However, the value of golden dragons minted in different periods is also different. Golden dragons with the heads of Aegon the Conqueror, Jaehaerys I, and the double heads of Aegon and Dragonzel are the most valuable gold coins. The ones with the head of Viserys I are less valuable. The golden dragon with the head of King Jakaris I was of the best quality and the highest value, but now most people would not trade it. It was only then that Ringol realized that he had lost money when buying the horse.

I regret this.

As for the golden dragon forged by Queen Rhaenyra and Aegon the Usurper

Seven Gods above, whether their value can be compared with gold hand coins depends on the wear and tear and how much impurities are mixed with them.

"We won't fight with them." Ringor checked everyone's equipment and picked up the two captured golden dragons after making sure it was OK. "Legend, let's go find the blacksmith, Alarion, and I have to ask you to stay and look after the camp."

Inside the camp, Ringol didn't have to call them by their false names, and his literacy meant there was no need to worry about him calling them by their real names outside.

"Ah?" Lei Geng was a little confused. They are now fully equipped.

"Let me mend a set of breastplates for you." Ringol pointed at the blacksmith who was shouting something loudly. Opposite him were a few submissive mercenaries. Several sets of broken armor were faintly visible on the cars beside him.

Presumably these mercenaries got into trouble with one or a few wandering knights with good equipment. Those "knights" had never fought against these mercenaries.

This also means that Rhaegon and Alarion have new gear.

"There is also a shield." Ringor calculated. The two golden dragons were probably worth about 230 silver deer. If possible, he would need to add some more money to buy two breastplates and three shields.

So he took out another golden dragon. It should be almost done now, the young man thought in his heart.

The blacksmith of Storm's End is a middle-aged man with a dark beard. He just bought five or six pieces of tattered armor at a low price from a group of plague-stricken mercenaries. He is now very comfortable.

Even if he takes these things back directly, he can still make a lot of money.

Just when he was thinking about what to do with the scrap metal, Ringor led Lei Geng to his stall and glanced around at the goods on his stall. Weapons are the main ones, oak shields are piled neatly at the feet, and there is almost no armor visible.

The blacksmith also noticed the two of them. Although he was a civilian, he had served at Storm's End for many years, and he was good at judging age. The blacksmith could tell at a glance that these two teenagers were not very old.

None could be more than fifteen years old.

He glanced at the clothes worn by the two teenagers. Ringor was wearing a slim leather jacket, which looked clean and tidy. Lei Geng's clothes were much rougher, but not too different. There was not much wear and tear. There were no obvious traces of blood, which meant that these two young men had either never seen blood, or they were really ruthless characters. There was probably something in common between the two.

These two young men were from a large family. They were the second or third son of the family. They might even be the eldest son who went out for training.

The blacksmith felt that he had to take this game seriously.

"The shield is here. If you need weapons, you can take a look at the ones that have been displayed. The armor needs to be customized. If you need to draw a coat of arms on the shield, you can tell me." The blacksmith gathered his thoughts and looked at the two teenagers. He patted his chest confidently: "I learned painting from the bachelor of the castle. As long as you can describe what you want to draw, I can draw it."

"We need two pieces of chest plate armor." Ringor took out the two golden dragons. "And three shields."

The blacksmith was stunned for a moment, took Ringol's golden dragon and glanced at it, frowning: "This Sir." He raised his head with some difficulty. "Two sets of breastplates, if no other accessories are needed, are 230 silver deer. I can save a little less for the three shields. The total is 322 silver deer. It's enough, but"

Ringol thought for a moment and prepared to take out the spare golden dragon. But Lei Geng quietly held down his wallet.

"The usurper's gold coins are also considered gold coins, right? Even though he is a traitor, he also used gold to mint coins, right?"

The blacksmith nodded. He had to admit it. Aegon's gold coin was also a gold dragon, although its value was much less.

"We admit this, and calculate it based on the price of the usurper's golden dragon. But Queen Rhaenyra is the legitimate king, and its value is guaranteed by the kingdom, you."

"I know, I know." The blacksmith suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Now Duke Boros of Storm's End is paying close attention to this matter. He has always felt offended because of some well-known things in the Dance of the Dragons. He has the lineage of Queen Rhaenyra, so he has always lived cautiously.

And these two little guys obviously know these things very well, and it once again proves that they come from a big family.

I dare not offend you.

He did not dare to trouble the Duke in this matter.

"Sir, it's no problem, no problem at all." The blacksmith rushed to his car and took out two almost brand-new breastplates with great effort.

It was not a remade product. Ringol could even see the worn-out stag emblem on the breastplate.

"Sir, these two pieces are in stock, and" the blacksmith's eyes measured the figures of Lei Geng and Ringor like a ruler, and then decisively pushed the two breastplates in front of the teenagers. "It's very suitable, very suitable. In this way, just for these two golden dragons, I will also cover the paintings on your shields."

"No charge." The blacksmith said with a hearty smile.

The Riverlands at this time.

Along the Red Fork River.

A caravan moved slowly along the river.

The silver-haired man at the head suddenly raised his hand and looked at the carriage behind.

"The great master is here."

The first update, there will be another update after the changes are finished in a while.