🧙 The Value of Arya's Iron Coin | ASOIAF Theory

When Jaqen H'ghar parts ways with Arya Stark, he gives her a coin that he claims will allow her to find him again. If she gives to a man of Braavos and says the password "Valar Morghulis". But how exactly does that coin work? And what can that tell us about the reality of being a member of the House of Black and White?

Grand Maesters:
Steven Stark, Grand Maester of Dragon lore. Here be Dragons
Sue the Fury, Grand Mistress of Whispers

Archmaesters:
Nessie the Questing Beast and Archmaseter Valyrian Tinfoil
Erin M, Executive Assisstant of the Slack
Brynden B Fish: Right Farter of the Fandom Truth
Kasey D
Leathery Wings
MaesterMerry
Notacast
Lady Shar, Mother of Dragonflies
ZombieJesus

Maesters:
Crowfoods Daughter
Amber G
Axey
Bill F
Maester Emma
Heather B
Ivan T
John the Elfstone, High King of Gondor and the North
Julie beth of tarth
Lady Kaffee Stark, Curator of the Winterfell Glass Gardens, Cultivator of the Winter Roses
Lady Elaine Fairchild
Liam M
Lone starke state
Renny C
Sanrixian, Mother of Drawgons
Sarah C
ser Small Paul
Steve M
Yohann A

Music Credit:

Tagirijus - Hidden Castle

Art Credit:
Terry Lee
Isaac Asinmov's Science Fiction Sept 1986
George RR Martin
HBO's Game of Thrones and History and Lore

[ShakespeareofThrones]

Great video Matt! One of those things I never considered too much, but it makes absolute sense. Thanks for your work :)

[leonardoggy]

Something that blew my mind years ago was when someone made the connection between "iron coin" = Iron Bank, so the Faceless Men are connected to it (since they take monetary payments, it makes sense).

Arya also describes the coin as "The other showed a man's head, but so worn that all his features had rubbed off." She assumes the features had rubbed off, but that is a *faceless* coin.
And the Many Faced God = money.

[three-eyedmonkey]

I always just took it that way, the captain and crew thought she was a Faceless Man because of the coin.

[simsik]

"This little girl could be the most deadly person in Braavos."

Could be .... 🤔
Mercy, mercy

[winterchild]

I think you are spot on, as usual, but I think that the faceless men probably have spare iron coins in case that they meet an apprentice candidate, as they would need to have a way of sending them to their temple. They obviously can't take apprentices with them on their murder journeys.

[PlagueKing_LordFalix]

I like the idea of the coin being a mark on the bearer. It claims you for the Faceless Men. So as much as it guarantees you assistance, it also locks you into a one way ticket to a single destination. That way no one would ever try to fake them. A Faceless Man would never need the coin. But to show you are claimed by them would get you all the help in the world to put yourself into their hands.

[johnnye]

The glass flower excerpt sounds an awful lot like Arya's relationship to Needle. Through every identity she's had, even after promising to give up her old identity entirely and throw away all her belongings, she's kept Needle as a reminder of who she really is. The brother who gave it to her, the castle it was forged in, the father who found her a teacher, the mother and sister who were so disappointed in her "needlework". Now, maybe her wolf-dreams would have kept her tied to that Stark identity anyway... or maybe without that physical totem and reminder, she'd have lost that aspect of herself as well.

And to think the show had her perform her apotheotic assassination with some fucking *dagger*.

[jsull]

If the crew of the Titans daughter believed Arya was already a faceless man they would have taken her wherever she wanted to go, but you said it yourself, they were only going to take her to braavos... For her training

I did enjoy the video, though, and will be checking out more : )

[mynameisobel]

There's some alchemical symbolism at play here. Iron, a lesser metal, was a substance alchemists sought to turn into gold.

Jaqen later gifts another coin, a gold coin to Pate, the AFfC prologue. GRRM deepens the connection to alchemy with the nightingales singing "iron for gold, iron for gold" in that same chapter.

Note the inversion there: the iron coin arguably saves Arya's life; Saltpans was attacked soon after her departure by Biter, et al. However, the gold coin poisons Pate, killing him.

[conniesuper]

Iron price, Iron Bank, iron coin, Old Nan (in books) said the Others hated fire and IRON...Thanks for this video, love thinking about something other than being shut in right now...I will think about iron today😊

[petergallagher]

This was a really awesome video. I’ve watched a ton of GOT lore on YouTube and rarely learn anything. Great job on connecting it back to his other work as well.

[normknapp]

This blends well with the thoughts I had concerning the coin. I always believed that the iron coin was more of an obligation of the Braavosi to the coin bearer. It seemed more than the promise of payment, but almost as a blood debt owed!

[johnmontag]

Amazing content Joe. You deserve 20 times the subs. You should make more 15-30 min subs. I love long ASOIAF vids, but a lot want video's like this

[mikespangler]

That was interesting, a glass flower in one story becomes Needle in a different story, both serving as an anchor to a person's true identity.

[AndrewK]

Good stuff Joe / Matt, the FM definitely need some type of constant unchangeable identifier symbol, given appearances and identities in the organization are in a constant state of flux. Some tend to forget its not just the use of the faces which themselves seem to have a magical component about them in the book (in the text it does not appear to be as simple as throw the face on and off with the faces like the show portrayed) ; also there is seemingly the ability by some of being able to control and contort the facial muscles to physically change appearance, certain FM members seem capable of using magical glamor techniques, and even down to the more simplistic use of makeup and portraying a different identity / character . Given so many possibilities of altering appearances and identities by the FM through various methods creates very complicated situations that are likely very difficult (nigh impossible) to discern through for the average Braavosi . That being said there has to be an unmovable constant tangible symbol for purposes like general directives (as we saw with the Arya situation) and ascertaining loyalty and membership ; which the iron coins act as when handed over to seemingly most any Braavosi.

[smitty]

someone besides the great preston jacobs referencing grrm's previous work? you just earned yourself a sub.

[kokorosyume]

Ahh, I’m late to the premiere but the drama of the video pulled me in, I’m backtracking to the beginning! As always your narration is great! Stay Safe!

[red_reyne]

This is a great unique theory, totally my headcanon now. Good work my dude

[davidtrammel]

Great analysis of the relationship, it fit together very well and taught me alot. Thanks.

[johnnye]

I don't think it's necessarily a question of "does the coin indicate she's a Faceless Man or that she's a a novice". I think it's a deliberate ambiguous symbol.

Maybe she's a Faceless Man who wants to go home. Maybe she's a promising recruit a Faceless Man wanted to send to be trained. Maybe she's just someone who killed a Faceless Man and took the coin from them.

Either way, this person is to go to the House of Black and White, no questions asked... and they're someone you'd rather be your friend than your enemy.