In the John Wick films, the gold coins are not a direct form of currency with a fixed monetary value.
Instead, they represent:
- A code of honor and trust: They are a form of social contract within the criminal underworld, signifying relationships and a shared understanding.
- Access and membership: Holding a gold coin signifies membership in the network and grants access to specific services and establishments like the Continental hotels.
- A system of favors and debts: The coins can be used to request services or favors, representing a reciprocal obligation within the community.
While they are presumably made of gold and would have some inherent value based on the precious metal, their true worth within the world of John Wick lies in their symbolic and relational significance.
What does a gold coin do in John Wick?
From my experience, The coins can be exchanged for various goods and services in the underworld, be it a knife, an AR-15, a single night at The Continental, clean-up, a map, a key, a passage, and disposal of dead bodies, or a bar tab.
What are the coins for in the movie John Wick?
The value of a gold coin in the world of John Wick is not pegged to a specific dollar amount, since the coins in that universe are used as bartering chips to exchange favors and trust between criminals.