Re: (TFT) electrum...and aluminium

[srydzews@ix.netcom.com]

cas liber wrote:
> Another thought on aluminium, as it is lightweight, wouldn't 
> coins made from it weigh only half as much? (useful for carrying)

They'd weigh less than a third of similar-sized coins made of 
silver.  It's certainly possible, but in a world where the 
value of the coin is supposed to be tied to its content (not 
a network of vauge promises and trust like modern day coins) 
there is a problem, namely that the value of the metal varies 
incredibly.  An industrial society can crank out tons of 
aluminum for next to nothing.  A pre-industrial society can
only produce the merest scraps at amazing expense.  It's 
kind of a binary thing.  Either the metal is fabulouly 
valuable, or it's so worthless you make soda cans out of.

Neil's proposition, that aluminum is something wizards can 
make (albeit in limited quantities) could overcome these
objections.  Of course this would mean that in the area where
this is done the wizards are essentially minting the money,
and so are probably pretty much running the show.  Interesting
implications...
 - light, durable, coins that are hard to counterfeit or
   adulterate by normal means.
 - the process needs to be secret.  If every 15 IQ (or whatever)
   wizard knows how to make the metal, then forget it.  It has
   to be a limited group.  

Of course, where there are such secrets there is also 
treachery, sack upon sack of illegally-made coins stashed
in the basement, daggers in the night, and suchlike things
that adventurers live for.

Another possible complication would be if someone found a 
mnoren/ancient ruin containing thousands of tons of aluminum.
















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