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'''Spheres''' are the primary currency in most nations on [[Roshar]]. Each one consists of a [[gemstone]] encased in a glass bead. Gemstones, including the ones in spheres, can temporarily hold [[Investiture]] in the form of [[Stormlight]], offering both a source of light{{book ref|sa1|3}} and fuel for [[fabrial]]s{{cite}} and [[Surgebinding]]s.{{cite}} Like all gemstones, spheres naturally leak any Stormlight they have absorbed, over several days{{book ref|sa3|99}} - with larger denominations taking slightly longer.{{cite}} This has led to the practice of leaving spheres out in baskets and cages during highstorms so they can be recharged. The Rosharan terms for spheres full and empty of Stormlight are ''infused'' and ''dun'' respectively.
 
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| pre=! style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;" {{!}}
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{{row| Chip | 0.1{{wob ref|10400}} | 20 | 3{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}
{{row| Mark | 0.5{{wob ref|10400}} | 100 | 5{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}
{{row| Broam | 2.0{{wob ref|10400}} | 400 | 8{{url ref|name=igs}}{{url ref|name=diamondnexus}} | pre={{!}} style="text-align:center;" {{!}} | pre1={{!}} style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}
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Each sphere is made of a tiny gemstone encased in a glass bead, usually flattened on one side to keep the sphere from rolling away when set down.{{book ref|sa1|27}} The gemstone can belong to any one of the ten [[Polestone]]s,{{book ref|twok|8}} and can come in one of three different sizes. The glass bead is always a uniform size, little larger than a person's thumb nail.{{book ref|sa1|3}}
 
Exact measurements for the glass beads or their embedded gemstones are not available, but they can be deduced from athe Redditknown postweights byof [[Petereach Ahlstrom]]denomination's wheregemstone. heAssuming confirmsa theuniform weightround cut of eachthe gemstone in the largest denomination of spheres, inthe broam, would make the diameter of the gem around carats8mm.{{citeurl ref|name=igs}}{{url Theref|name=diamondnexus}} tableFactoring toShallan's thecomment leftabout listsspheres thebeing massslightly andlarger diameterthan ofa theperson's gemstonethumb innail, eachspheres denomination,are assuminglikely asomewhere uniformbetween round15mm cutand 25mm in diameter.
 
The table to the left lists the mass and diameter of the gemstone in each denomination, assuming a uniform round cut.
 
<br style="clear:both;"><!-- Force the next section to render below any floating elements, like the table above -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
{{row| Sphere values | pre=! colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" |{{!}} '''Sphere values'''}}
{{row| Tier | Value (chip) | Value (mark) | Value (broam) | Spheres | pre=! style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" {{!}} }}
{{row| Cheapest | 1 | 5 | 20 | Diamond }}
{{row| Less weight | 5 | 25 | 100 | Garnet, heliodor, topaz }}
 
== Spheres as Investiture ==
As useful as spheres are in the everyday life of most Rosharans, their property of holding Investiture in the form of Stormlight is especially useful to a couple of very specific groups of people - [[Surgebinder]]s and denizens of [[Shadesmar]].
 
=== Surgebinders ===
Similarly to how spheres have become to dominant currency in the [[Physical Realm]] of Roshar, they have become prevalent in its [[Cognitive Realm]] as well - though for slightly different reasons. In the Physical Realm the value of each sphere is determined primarily by the economic value of its gemstone, as it relates to Soulcasting. In Shadesmar, however, the real currency is the Stormlight, and spheres become only as valuable as the amount of Stormlight they hold at the moment of the transaction. Presumably out of convenience, prices are still communicated in terms of the sphere denominations defined in the Physical Realm, but the gemstone type becomes irrelevant; a freshly infused diamond mark has the same value in Shadesmar as a freshly infused emerald mark - they are both "one mark of Stormlight," even though in the Physical Realm emeralds are fifty times more expensive than diamonds.
 
For reasons not yet known, Stormlight fades more quickly in Shadesmar than it does in the Physical Realm,{{book ref|sa3|99}} which has led to the development of alternative ways of transporting and transferring Stormlight. The moneychangers in [[Celebrant]], for example, have devices they can use to transfer Stormlight from regular spheres and gemstones into their [[perfect gems]]{{book ref|sa3|99}} (where it won't fade). In return, they give out notes of exchange{{book ref|sa3|101}}, which can be spent like credits within the city's limits.{{book ref|sa3|99}} The [[Rii Oracle]] possesses a device similar to what the Celebrant moneychangers use, but [[Ico|Captain Ico]] calls it "foreign technology."{{book ref|sa3|99}}
* Stormlight fades too quickly in Shadesmar.{{book ref|sa3|99}}
 
* Moneychangers in [[Celebrant]] have devices that can transfer Stormlight from smaller gemstones into their perfect gems. They give credits that can be spent in the city in return.{{book ref|sa3|99}} These credits are known as notes of exchange.{{book ref|sa3|101}}
Neither the full breath nor depth of the usefulness of Stormlight in Shadesmar is currently known, but it appears to be even more valuable there than it does in Physical Realm. While it can serve as a regular currency, exchanged for items as mundane as clothes and as exotic as a painting from [[Nalthis]]' [[Court of Gods]],{{book ref|sa3|102}} it can also help spren change appearance{{book ref|sa3|103}}, though perhaps most importantly, it can aid in manifesting souls{{book ref|sa3|99}} -- a skill that seems invaluable for the survival in Shadesmar.
* * The Rii oracle has a similar device but it's "foreign technology."{{book ref|sa3|99}}
* Stormlight can be used to manifest souls in Shadesmar.
* Syl needs Stormlight to change her clothes.{{book ref|sa3|103}}
 
== Informal Names ==
Spheres are normallyformally described by their gemstone and denomination. However, insteadin ofeveryday the gemstoneconversations, spheresthey are sometimes referred to by color. For example, a ruby mark may be referred to ascalled a "firemark" (and a ruby chip - firechip), while a diamond chip may be referred to as a "clearchip." Below is the list of known alternate names.
 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
{{row| Shortcut names | pre=! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}
{{row| Gemstone | ChipsChip | MarksMark | pre=! style="font-weight: bold;" {{!}} }}
{{row| Diamond | Clearchip{{book ref|sa2|43}} | Clearmark{{book ref|sa1|11}} }}
{{row| Garnet | Bloodchip{{cite}} | Bloodmark{{book ref|sa1|17}} }}
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