Spheres

Spheres were the major units of currency used on Roshar.

They were made of small gemstones that were set inside glass spheres. Most glass beads were about the size of a thumbnail and flattened on one side, to keep it from rolling away when set down.^{[citation needed]}

The gemstones came in three denominations; chips, marks and broams. There were five chips to a mark, and four marks to a broam. Chips barely have any glow at all, since they are just a sliver of gem, but marks glow almost as bright as a candle. Only nine of the ten Polestones are used in the spheres, but it is as of yet unknown whether smokestones or heliodor are the gem not used, or the reason for the tenth gem's absence. Spheres also have five levels of value, meaning several spheres conaining different types of gems are worth the same amount.

If left outside during a highstorm, spheres would be infused with Stormlight. Over time, all of the Stormlight escaped leaving it dun, so it ceases to glow. Since the glow of spheres is what proves that they aren't counterfeit, people are often suspicious of those spending dun spheres. They will call in a moneylender to judge their authenticity. Instead of just leaving their spheres out in a highstorm, people often pay moneylenders a fee to have their spheres infused in the moneylender's secure baskets. In addition to currency, infused spheres are often used as a source of light, since they are much more reliable then candles and lanterns. The all the spheres in the treasury of Kharbranth are used in the Palanaeum as a source of light, since the Palanaeum is the most secure place in Kharbranth.

Relative Value

Below is a table of sphere values in terms of diamond chips, the lowest valued sphere. It is not yet comprehensive, and there is another unnamed level of sphere value.

Gem type	Chips	Marks	Broams
Diamond	1 diamond chip	5 diamond chips	20 diamond chips
Garnet	5 diamond chips	25 diamond chips	100 diamond chips
Sapphire	25 diamond chips	125 diamond chips	500 diamond chips
Emerald	50 diamond chips	250 diamond chips	1000 diamond chips

Notes

This article is a stub. Please help The Coppermind by expanding it.