Not many props get to be so captivating and intriguing like the memorable main currency of the John Wick franchise.
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The universe of John Wick is a very intriguing nocturnal mafia-ridden New York City, in which any seemingly ordinary person could potentially be a skilled high-end assassin. There are many great things about John Wick's universe, among them are the gold coins universally utilized by the gangsters and mobsters of the criminal underworld. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum already showed viewers how and where the coins are manufactured, but the franchise has not revealed a numeric value for them.
Unsurprisingly, viewers often ask themselves how much one of those coins is worth. While it is possible to use the measurements of the coins and the value per weight of gold to calculate how much one of them is worth in dollars (somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000), in the John Wick universe, the monetary value of the coins do not matter. The coins are metaphorical vessels that symbolizes a favor.
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But, how much is a favor worth? Well, it depends. The philosophies that fuel John Wick’s universe are surprisingly complex. The gold coins, in and of themselves, have no inherent monetary value. A single coin can pay for many services or products, like a doctor's appointment, a cadaver's disposal, a drink, or a taxi ride, among other things. There is no dollar conversion rate for the coins, as they are more than just money. Which would lead to the follow-up question of: why do they need money then? Well, while the John Wick movies often leave many questions unanswered (which is very much likely to be intentional to create mystery), viewers often theorize to draw conclusions.
How Does Money Work In The John Wick Universe?
If the gold coins are but symbolic trinkets of someone’s integrity within the underground crime world, one can assume that regular money works in the same good old-fashioned way in the films, even if viewers never really get to see characters use actual money as currency in the movies. The assassination contracts are paid in US dollars, as is the case of the $14 million bounty on John's head for his violation of the rules at the end of Chapter 2. In the universe of John Wick, honor plays an essential role, perhaps being even more important than money itself. It is no surprise that what kicks off the first movie's plot is John getting back into action for a personal vendetta against Iosef (Alfie Owen-Allen), an immature young man who lacks any honor or respect. Also, the fate of Ms. Perkins (Adrianne Palicki) in the first movie is a testament to what happens when one breaks the unyielding rules of the Continental. "Rules… without them, we live with the animals", quotes Winston (Ian McShane) in Chapter 2.
What About The Markers?
There is, still, another puzzling piece of this creative franchise's economy. In Chapter 2, Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) presents a marker that John Wick owes him. Diving even deeper into honor and integrity as the main thematic principles for the franchise, a marker is the ultimate symbol of one person's debts with another. A marker is only evoked when one needs a colossal favor from someone else and is willing to pay it back when the time comes. Signed in bloody fingerprints, there is no denying the severity of the marker, and the sheer betrayal that is dishonoring it. John knew that his life was forfeit the moment he denied Santino's favor, but tried it anyway. The irony of it all is that while Santino might be a selfish, ambitious-driven man who is willing to end his own sister's life for his political and financial benefits, he never breaks any of the Continental's rules. John, on the other hand, breaks the rules and is declared excommunicado.
With John Wick: Chapter 4 on the horizon, it's almost time for viewers all around the world to hopefully enjoy yet another insane entry in this top-tier franchise fans have grown to love. If great action sequences, interesting story, compelling characters, stunning visuals, and an engaging world were not enough, John Wick is also an incredibly intricate movie with a lot to analyze and theorize upon.
As a dedicated enthusiast and expert in the intricate world of the John Wick franchise, I bring a wealth of knowledge to unravel the mysteries surrounding the captivating elements discussed in Rodrigo Facundo's article, "Home Movies & TV," published on March 18, 2023.
Let's delve into the concepts explored in the article:
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Gold Coins in John Wick Universe: The article addresses the central theme of gold coins in the John Wick universe. These coins serve as a unique and intriguing currency within the mafia-ridden nocturnal setting of New York City. The author notes that these coins are not just a form of currency but metaphorical vessels symbolizing favors. The lack of a specific numeric value for the coins adds an air of mystery to their worth.
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Monetary Value of Gold Coins: The article suggests that while it is possible to calculate the monetary value of the gold coins based on their weight and the value of gold, the John Wick universe intentionally avoids assigning a dollar value to these coins. Instead, they represent favors and act as symbols of integrity within the criminal underworld.
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Philosophies in John Wick's Universe: The piece delves into the surprisingly complex philosophies that fuel John Wick's universe. Gold coins, lacking inherent monetary value, can be used to pay for various services and products, emphasizing their symbolic nature. The author highlights that the worth of a favor in this universe depends on the services or products it can acquire.
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Role of Money in John Wick's Universe: The article touches upon the role of regular money in the John Wick universe, suggesting that traditional currency operates similarly to how it does in the real world. The viewers rarely witness characters using actual money, but assassination contracts are explicitly paid in US dollars. Honor is portrayed as a crucial element, potentially even more important than money.
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Markers as Symbols of Debt: Another intriguing aspect explored is the concept of markers. These are portrayed as symbols of debt and honor in the franchise. The article highlights that a marker represents a significant favor owed by one person to another, evoked when a colossal favor is needed and to be repaid when the time comes. The severity of markers is emphasized by their blood-signed nature.
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Importance of Honor: The article emphasizes the importance of honor in the John Wick universe. It suggests that honor plays a vital role, potentially surpassing the importance of money. Examples from the movies, such as John's vendetta against Iosef and the consequences for breaking the Continental's rules, illustrate the significance of honor.
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Foreshadowing for John Wick: Chapter 4: The article concludes by mentioning the anticipation for the upcoming installment, "John Wick: Chapter 4." It hints at the complexity of the franchise, inviting viewers to enjoy the combination of great action sequences, compelling characters, stunning visuals, and an engaging world, along with the intricate layers that invite analysis and theorizing.
In essence, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the unique elements that contribute to the richness and complexity of the John Wick franchise, showcasing the depth of the universe beyond its surface-level action sequences.
