What does a gil look like?

[UnsEEn_nInjA]

I have played at least most of the way through every final fantasy ever made (at least in the linear series... I'm just starting Tactics, and haven't touched the Chocobo's Dungeons), and as a staple to all of them the money system is the gil. In none of them have I ever seen a picture of a gil or a reference to what type of money it is (coin, credit, etc.) This is sort of a poll (though not in poll form) to get your ideas on what you think a gil would look like. Pictures would be appreciated, though not neccesary, and be as detailed as you like. I'm considering making and bringing some for my cosplay at next year's A-kon.

Also, if you're "right" about what it looks like, please either show proof or don't bother arguing. Just because you think it should be like something doesn't mean everybody else will agree with you. Thank you for understanding.

[Shiny]

That's a good question! I've never really thought about it before. I'm guessing gil looks like coins or atleast something that's little tonberrys or moogles can carry in their pockets.

[~SapphireStar~]

I personally thought they were small gold coins (like the size of a UK pound coin) with a symbol like a tonberry or chocobo on it.

[Captain Maxx Power]

This is straight out of Final Fantasy 6. From the looks of it it looks, unsurprisingly enough, much like Japanese Yen.

[UnsEEn_nInjA]

In Final Fantasy VI, this ability gives perhaps the only good visual representation of what a Gil coin looks like: a circular metallic coin with a small hole in the center with markings around it. This makes it visually similar to other, real-world currencies (most notably that of Japan, because it has the shade of a 5 or 50 Yen piece).

Final Fantasy Tactics contains an animation of gil as circular, golden coins when a Thief uses the Steal Gil ability. Final Fantasy XI also has a visual representation of gil in the form of normal gold and silver coins.

In these games, the coin could be seen as a generic symbol for money, such as the sword the FF series often uses as a generic symbol for weapons. As such, it is not neccesarily the image of the coin. The coins used in "throw coin" are also not neccesarily gil, as one with four quarters could be said to have a dollar, though a dollar is a rectangular slip of paper, and they have 4 circular disks. These are not proof.

[Captain Maxx Power]

In these games, the coin could be seen as a generic symbol for money, such as the sword the FF series often uses as a generic symbol for weapons. As such, it is not neccesarily the image of the coin. The coins used in "throw coin" are also not neccesarily gil, as one with four quarters could be said to have a dollar, though a dollar is a rectangular slip of paper, and they have 4 circular disks. These are not proof.

Yes, but the money's called Gil. If you're throwing coins you're not going to be fahsioning them out of stone. Come on, the freakin' skill uses up the blasted stuff! Surely that's proof enough?

[Evastio]

This is straight out of Final Fantasy 6. From the looks of it it looks, unsurprisingly enough, much like Japanese Yen.

I haven't seen that pic at all in FFVI. When do you see it?

[UnsEEn_nInjA]

What I'm saying is that, while we know the coins to be a form of gil, they are not neccesarily 'a' gil. Throwing quarters could use up several bucks, even though you threw no dollars. Also, the coin would be horribly impracticle, considering how many you can have on you at any time. The leaves open any other form of money, though it's true that it's proof enough that coins are one form of the currency. (this is a discussion I've had before, though now with gil, concerning the neccesary problems discussing the difference between currency as an amount, and the basic unit that makes that currency separately when they have the same name. There is a distinction, but you might have to think about it.)

[TheAbominatrix]

While that is a very good point, and logical, we dont have any solid proof to go on as to there being paper money, especially in the more 'mideval' games. We do, however, have the appearance of coin as fact, in multiple games even. I'd say it's more likely that they have gil pieces (coin-like) of different values, rather than paper money. Some games dont have the technology level neccesary to create paper currency.

I can think of a few more games with the coin stated, but I could be wrong because I havent played in a while.
-When finding hiding spots of gil in VII, doesnt it make the 'clink' noise of coins being pushed together?
-In IX, does Zidane toss a coin about a some point? I cant remember.

Anyway, I'd say it's likely that there isnt paper money, but probably gil coins of different values.

[Tavrobel]

This is straight out of Final Fantasy 6. From the looks of it it looks, unsurprisingly enough, much like Japanese Yen.

I haven't seen that pic at all in FFVI. When do you see it?

When Setzer or Gogo uses GP Rain: the three discs that he throws are pictures of GP, not Gil; but they are both essentially the same.

Wallets probably aren't a big commodity in the FF world, so they seem to have a small hole in the center. This could mean that a character could hold gil on a string and carry it around in a pocket or something, assuming that it is extremely light, and very thin. There could also be the possibility of gil pieces that are sold or combined together to make higher value pieces, therefore, possibly changing the number on them, if it has one. The markings (lines on the GP) could also indicate its value, by length, or color, or w/e. Unfortunately, the GP thrown in FFVI is generic.

In FFX, however, Bribing often drops many gold pieces, and you can't actually see anyone actually take out the money, you only see them reach to the pocket, and it skips to them presenting the money to the enemy. Also, using Spare Change also only throws many gold pieces, and you don't actually ever see the Gil in detail.

[lovehurts]

I could show you more examples in the final fantasy games with coin toss. I dont remember which games had that feature.

[Tavrobel]

FFI, II, IIIj, IV, and V have no depictions of GP or Gil. Unsure about the remakes.
FFVI has GP Rain.
FFVII has Spare Change/Law.
Not sure about FFVIII, that one escapes my memory.
FFIX has (surprisingly enough) no depictions.
FFX has Spare Change and Bribe.
Haven't played FFXI, XII, or XIII, nor any of the spinoffs.

Kingdom Hearts has the orbs of gold/purple/blue, but that's not GP, that's Munny.

[Renmiri]

FFX-2 actually has "ancient coins" that you dig from a desert and use on the Sphere Break minigame. I assume they were the gil used 1,000 years ago, when Zanarkand was still around..

There is also this scan a friend of mine did from his FFX Ultimania guide for me
http://ffproject.net/forumwiki/index...mage:Coins.JPG (scroll down)

[UnsEEn_nInjA]

There is also this scan a friend of mine did from his FFX Ultimania guide for me
http://ffproject.net/forumwiki/index...mage:Coins.JPG (scroll down)

Who published that book?

[TheAbominatrix]

The Ultimania Guides are from Square, officially. They contain information from the creators.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimania