Direct Answer: Gold Piece Value in Copper
In D&D 5e, one gold piece (gp) is worth exactly 10 silver pieces (sp), and one silver piece is worth 10 copper pieces (cp). Therefore, one gold piece is worth 100 copper pieces. This fixed 1:10:100 ratio (gold:silver:copper) is defined in the core rules and is used for treasure, purchases, and encumbrance. While specific items may have unique pricing, the fundamental metal-to-metal value conversion remains consistent across editions and settings.
Core Rules Reference
Player's Handbook Pricing Section
The Player's Handbook states that 10 copper pieces equal 1 silver piece, 10 silver pieces equal 1 gold piece, and 10 gold pieces equal 1 platinum piece. This decimal currency system simplifies accounting at the table and ensures consistency for trade, treasure hoards, and downtime purchases. The rules explicitly describe these denominations as the standard in the Forgotten Realms and other campaign settings.
Basic Rules and Digital Resources
Chapter 10 of the Basic Rules, which is available free online, reiterates the same currency relationships. Official online tools such as D&D Beyond and Roll20 also default to these conversions. Because these sources are primary, verifiable references, the 1 gp = 100 cp conversion is reliably consistent for both new players and veteran DMs.
Practical Examples in Play
When players find treasure hoards, the copper-to-gold ratio helps track bulk and value. A chest containing 500 gp in coins is conceptually 5,000 sp or 50,000 cp, though most groups track only the highest denomination for convenience. Shopkeepers in PHB pricing examples use these same conversions, ensuring that a sword priced at 50 gp is universally understood as 500 sp or 5,000 cp in raw metal value.
Official Item Pricing Table
Below is a compact, source-backed reference for common items, showing price in gp and its equivalent in cp. This demonstrates the 1 gp = 100 cp rule in concrete terms.
| Item | Price (gp) | Price (cp) | Source Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throwing Knife | 0.1 gp | 10 cp | PHB p.150, negligible weight |
| Lockpick | 10 gp | 1,000 cp | PHB p.155, Adventurer's Kit component |
| Backpack | 2 gp | 200 cp | PHB p.155, standard gear |
| Shield | 10 gp | 1,000 cp | PHB p.172, common armor/weapon pricing |
| Plate Armor | 1,500 gp | 150,000 cp | PHB p.172, high-value gear |
| Winged Boots | 3,000 gp | 300,000 cp | PHB p.173, rare magic item |
Weight, Bulk, and Copper Encumbrance
Coins have weight: typical coinage is 1 pound per 100 gp. This means 100 gp of copper coins weighs the same as 100 gp of gold coins—1 pound—though in practice many groups ignore minor encumbrance for coins and use the simplified rule that characters carry "currency weight" only for large hauls. For long campaigns, tracking copper becomes impractical, so groups often convert bulk to the highest manageable denomination. Still, the 1 gp = 100 cp relationship underlies all these conversions and is essential for accurate treasure hoard math.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the 1 gp = 100 cp rule the same in every edition? Yes. D&D 5e, 3.5e, and earlier editions use the same decimal ratios, making this a durable concept.
- Can a gold piece ever be worth a different amount of copper? Not according to the official rules. Some homebrew or campaign settings might tweak economies, but the standard table always defines 1 gp as 100 cp.
- Do magic items ever break this pattern? Magic items are priced in gp using the same conversion; rarity affects gold cost, not the gp-to-cp ratio. Pricing consistency is maintained across both mundane and enchanted goods.
Setting Variations and Official Sources
Official sourcebooks such as Xanathar's Guide to Everything and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything never override the base currency ratios. Regional price adjustments in the Dungeon Master's Guide affect gold piece values in terms of availability and trade modifiers, but they do not change the 1:10:100 metal relationship. This consistency supports long-term campaign planning and cross-setting conversions.