[ARCHIVED THREAD] - John Wick - Question (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 6/20/2017 10:15:44 AM EDT
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I was discussing the movie with my sister-in-law over the weekend.
She was under the impression that the coins were like challenge coins and you earned them for killing someone. Hence, the scene that shows John has a case full of them and when he offered the black guy in the hotel one coin for Ms Perkins. That doesn't make sense because you would just have to give the coin away to the cleaners. It clearly shows John giving away 12 coins to the cleaners for his 'dinner reservation'. My argument was that it was just gold and probably linked to some kind of nominal number. Rightfully, my sister-in-law, pointed out that gold fluctuates and none of the characters ever talked about portions of a coin. When Ms. Perkins is tied up she says very specifically to her captor, "How would you like to earn more than just that one coin". Implying that the coin has some amount of value but she doesn't say "How would you like a cut of the $4M?" or really talk about money. She does talk about her life as if it's related to that coin. The only time that money is really mentioned is when the Russian boss puts a $2M and then $4M bounty on John. By Odin's Raven this is driving me nuts...what's the significance of the coins? *In before it's just a movie... 
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| I took it as a coin is worth one task per person. Since he's a part of an Assassin's Club that usually involves bad things. The coins can be used for other things though like entrance to the hotel and whatnot. I don't think it's the dollar value of a gold coin per se that makes them valuable as it's more of the currency used to access and use services pertaining to the club. Like if you wanted to get into the hotel and you offered the doorman $100k he'd tell you to get lost, but the coin would grant you access. |
| The coins are explained in the Extras on the DVD/Digital Download. They made them for the movie. One side of the coin has a symbol representing Peace and Violence, on the other side there is a lion for Strength and a shield for Protection. They serve as a membership card to the Assassin's Guild. They are worth about $1,000 U.S. each. |
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This is what my google-fu has turned up:
"One of those props that ended up confusing some audience members or being dismissed as a joke, this is actually probably the kludgiest and most obvious piece of symbolism in the movie. I’ll give you a hint: to stay at The Continental, a hotel filled with assassins (and other criminals?), John trades one of the coins to the hotel manager. This character’s name is never spoken but the credits call him Charon. Yes, these gold coins are in reference to those gold coins, the ones you trade to Charon to travel into the land of the dead. This is a reinforcement of an earlier scene in which John calls Charlie to get rid of twelve dead bodies and pays one gold coin for each of the bodies taken from his home. So that one is pretty on the nose and easy to read." |
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Quoted:
It's just their form of currency in the assasin underworld. It's part of their mystique. You aren't supposed to understand it. In Chapter 2 a coin bought 2 drinks at the bar, there appears to be no rhyme or reason in value. There was a scene in the beginning of Chapter 2 that might give a hint on background of the coins. Oh OP, Ruby Rose was not in John Wick 1. |
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I took it as a coin is worth one task per person. Since he's a part of an Assassin's Club that usually involves bad things. The coins can be used for other things though like entrance to the hotel and whatnot. I don't think it's the dollar value of a gold coin per se that makes them valuable as it's more of the currency used to access and use services pertaining to the club. Like if you wanted to get into the hotel and you offered the doorman $100k he'd tell you to get lost, but the coin would grant you access. |
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Oh merciful squid god it's just a movie. Did you see The Right Stuff? Did you notice that the guys were talking at a bonfire, and every time they showed anyone, they were just at a bonfire, EXCEPT when they showed Grissom. When the director showed Grissom, the bonfire flames were visible between the camera and Grissom. Why would the director do that? Grissom died in the Apollo One pad fire. Directors often do the same thing with bars in a jail or prison. The person behind bars will usually be shown with the bsrs visible, while visitors are shown without the bars between them and the camera. Do you just confine your understanding of things to whatever is spoon fed to you? |
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I assumed gold coins were the best international currency. Gold prices fluctuate, but spending them within the organization seems to get the same value regardless of fluctuations in gold prices.
I assumed the organization standardized the coins and their value. They are putting a lot of them in to circulation at the beginning of the second movie. |
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wow you people are WAYYYY over thinking a brainless action movie seriously it's just another over the top action movie, it's fun don't get me wrong, but there is no real substance to it outside of well choreographed fights Things like the gold coins, the rules of the Continental, the numerous unexplained details that you just know mean something, are glimpses into a world that exists in ours, yet is invisible to the average person. |
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This. Oh OP, Ruby Rose was not in John Wick 1. Quoted:
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It's just their form of currency in the assasin underworld. It's part of their mystique. You aren't supposed to understand it. Oh OP, Ruby Rose was not in John Wick 1. Other than the easily identifiable actors, I wasn't sure who played Ms. Perkins. I just did a quick google search and on the right side it listed actors/actresses and I knew she wasn't Bridget Moynahan. All salient points, including "It's just a movie". If it's a gold coin then it fluctuates with value. It doesn't seem to fluctuate with value at the hotel. It's a 1 for 1 deal for everything. If it's worth about $1k or $1.5k then that means someone has to be changing the size of the coins to accommodate for currency fluctuations. |
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Quoted:
wow you people are WAYYYY over thinking a brainless action movie seriously it's just another over the top action movie, it's fun don't get me wrong, but there is no real substance to it outside of well choreographed fights |
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The way I see it is more a "representation of services" than your typical currency
I think of it like a bullet. It can end up in the dirt a few feet from you (a drink), end up exactly where you want it on a target (hold a psyco bitch captive), keep heads down to cover your ass (cart off a body), or kill a man (assassination). A bullet can do all of these things and so can a single coin. |
The Writers/Directors try to explain it in this video at 17:00
 HONEST REACTIONS: John Wick Directors React to The Honest Trailer! |
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The way I see it is more a "representation of services" than your typical currency I think of it like a bullet. It can end up in the dirt a few feet from you (a drink), end up exactly where you want it on a target (hold a psyco bitch captive), keep heads down to cover your ass (cart off a body), or kill a man (assassination). A bullet can do all of these things and so can a single coin. |
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Good catch, I haven't seen John Wick 2 yet...well other than the first 20 minutes. I was going to watch it on Father's Day night but my wife interrupted my plans. I hadn't seen John Wick 1 up until last week. I sadly overlooked this gem but watched based on my brother and sister-in-law's recommendation. It was pretty awesome. Other than the easily identifiable actors, I wasn't sure who played Ms. Perkins. I just did a quick google search and on the right side it listed actors/actresses and I knew she wasn't Bridget Moynahan. All salient points, including "It's just a movie". If it's a gold coin then it fluctuates with value. It doesn't seem to fluctuate with value at the hotel. It's a 1 for 1 deal for everything. If it's worth about $1k or $1.5k then that means someone has to be changing the size of the coins to accommodate for currency fluctuations. Quoted:
Quoted:
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It's just their form of currency in the assasin underworld. It's part of their mystique. You aren't supposed to understand it. Oh OP, Ruby Rose was not in John Wick 1. Other than the easily identifiable actors, I wasn't sure who played Ms. Perkins. I just did a quick google search and on the right side it listed actors/actresses and I knew she wasn't Bridget Moynahan. All salient points, including "It's just a movie". If it's a gold coin then it fluctuates with value. It doesn't seem to fluctuate with value at the hotel. It's a 1 for 1 deal for everything. If it's worth about $1k or $1.5k then that means someone has to be changing the size of the coins to accommodate for currency fluctuations. I believe, if my memory holds, the coins are only every exchanged in the movies between members of the organization, whether it's assassins or someone from one of the various support groups. Essentially it is a shadow currency. |
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Did anyone see Perkins in GI Joe Retaliation? Holy moly!
Yes this is the red dress she wore in GI Joe and it's slit way high!! Attached File |
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The coin is the currency of the underworld organization run by the "High Council", so it's value is set by the organization and is not necessarily based on the going exchange value of gold by weight. I believe, if my memory holds, the coins are only every exchanged in the movies between members of the organization, whether it's assassins or someone from one of the various support groups. Essentially it is a shadow currency. |
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Did anyone see Perkins in GI Joe Retaliation? Holy moly! Yes this is the red dress she wore in GI Joe and it's slit way high!! https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/123704/85fe3c711a17aa847319862c86e6789a-234844.JPG |
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Quoted:
Did anyone see Perkins in GI Joe Retaliation? Holy moly! Yes this is the red dress she wore in GI Joe and it's slit way high!! https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/123704/85fe3c711a17aa847319862c86e6789a-234844.JPG 
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Quoted:
This is what my google-fu has turned up: "One of those props that ended up confusing some audience members or being dismissed as a joke, this is actually probably the kludgiest and most obvious piece of symbolism in the movie. I’ll give you a hint: to stay at The Continental, a hotel filled with assassins (and other criminals?), John trades one of the coins to the hotel manager. This character’s name is never spoken but the credits call him Charon. Yes, these gold coins are in reference to those gold coins, the ones you trade to Charon to travel into the land of the dead. This is a reinforcement of an earlier scene in which John calls Charlie to get rid of twelve dead bodies and pays one gold coin for each of the bodies taken from his home. So that one is pretty on the nose and easy to read." And those talking about Perkins....yeah, she was fucking hot. |
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gOL IS A FIAT currecy it's value derived from the amount availabel to percieved value of service.
The hitmen had thier oen economy it was based on gold & silver coins. even in the scene where he pays for the H&Ks, suit, & armor he also gets information he gives like 8 coins at today's spot that is $9960 likely a good realistic price for a few black market H&Ks a glock & an Bellini shooty with a bullet proof suit. seriously 10K is alot of cash |