The Mysterious Gold Coins of John Wick
At a Glance:
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- Mysterious gold coins are the currency of choice for criminals in the blockbuster hit John Wick.
- The coins are presumably made with one troy ounce of gold, making them worth over $2,500 each.
- Learn more about the gold coins in the world of John Wick on this page.
Gold Coins in the John Wick Franchise
Precious metal fans may have noticed that gold plays a uniquely important role in the economy of John Wick, an action-thriller series starring Keanu Reeves. In the vast criminal underworld of the blockbuster films, gold coins are the currency of choice for the criminal underground. We rarely see transactions on screen take place using any currency except for gold. More specifically, one specific type of gold coin seems to dominate the criminal economy of the movies.
These coins are called “Gold Continentals,” and they’ve been a bit of a mystery for film fans since the release of the first John Wick movie in 2014. Why do criminals in John Wick use gold coins instead of cash? Who’s minting all of these identical gold coins? And most importantly, how much are the coins in John Wick worth?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. On this page, we’re taking a deep dive into the role plays in John Wick to answer all of the questions moviegoers have about the mysterious gold standard used in John Wick’s criminal underworld.
The Basics: What Are the Gold Coins in John Wick?
Gold coins are used to facilitate nearly every illegal transaction in John Wick. Wealthy villains in the series have safes filled with identical gold coins, and flipping one of these gold coins to a hitman is usually enough to send them on a rampage against a kingpin’s enemies.
We now know that these gold coins are often called Continentals. This is probably a reference to The Continental, a hotel chain in John Wick frequented by hitmen, drug smugglers, and assorted baddies who want do do business in a safe and secure location. The mint source of these coins remains a mystery, but some fans have speculated that The Continental is responsible for producing them.
What’s written on the John Wick gold coins? The gold coins in John Wick are standardized and feature designs on the obverse and reverse. The back side of a John Wick Continental Gold Coin depicts a woman in a blindfold who holds both a sword and a shield.
John Wick’s gold coins feature a lion in front of a shield on the obverse. Above the lion is the inscription of the Latin phrase “ens causa sui,” which translates (roughly) to “something generated within itself.” Interestingly enough, this curious Latin expression may give us a couple clues on why gold coins are such a fixture of the criminal underworld in John Wick.
Why Do They Use Gold Coins in John Wick?
We know that criminals use gold coins in the John Wick series, but why? Criminals in John Wick deal exclusively in gold coins for two main reasons. First, gold is difficult to trace, which makes it easier for evildoers to avoid getting caught purchasing criminal services. Second, gold is intrinsically valuable and nearly impossible to fake, making it the perfect currency for a group of people (career criminals) who struggle trusting one another.
The phrase inscribed on the reverse of John Wick’s strange gold coins gives us a big clue into why this coin has such a stranglehold on the expansive cinematic universe of hitmen and kingpins. Gold is fundamentally “something generated within itself.” Gold coins have intrinsic value, since gold is a finite, rare resource. Even if all of the other currencies in the world collapse, gold will retain value because it is rare and desirable.
Remember: There’s no honor among thieves, especially in the world of John Wick. It makes sense that criminals in the series would prefer to do business using humanity’s oldest currency, gold bullion. The Continental Gold Coins of John Wick are used to make sure that even the scummiest criminals can’t get away without paying their debts.
Value of the Gold Coins in John Wick
If you’re a fan of the John Wick series, this may be your biggest question after seeing hundreds of mysterious gold coins changing hands throughout the franchise. How much are the coins in John Wick worth? The gold coins in John Wick appear to be approximately the same size as 1 troy ounce gold coins in the real world, so they’re likely worth a bit more than the spot price of gold, which is just over $2,500.
Are the gold coins in John Wick really worth $2,500? Well, not exactly. The actual value of a gold coin in John Wick is tough to pin down in the world of John Wick. Often times, a single gold coin can purchase a wide range of services, and it’s hard to believe that all of these illegal favors are worth exactly $2,500 USD.
In an interview with Empire, John Wick director Chad Stahelski had this to say about the value of a gold coin in his series:
They’re a holdover from the Cold War where you couldn’t do denominations. It’s more of a membership card. If you don’t have a gold coin, that’s an identifier. If you pay in gold, they know you’re OK, so it serves two purposes.
In this sense, the gold coins in John Wick aren’t much like the gold coins of our universe. In the real world, a gold coin can be traded for something worth around the coin’s melt value (plus a small premium). But the criminals of John Wick use their gold coins to trade favors and verify their membership to the criminal underworld, meaning that the buying power of a coin is not static but actually changes over time.
So what’s the final verdict? How much is a coin worth in John Wick? The value of a gold coin in the world of John Wick is not pegged to a specific dollar amount, since the coins in that universe are used as bartering chips to exchange favors and trust between criminals.
Can You Buy John Wick Gold Coins?
Can you buy John Wick Gold Coins? Some online gold dealers sell perfect replicas of the iconic gold coins from John Wick made with actual gold. The infamous gold coins used in the criminal underworld of John Wick also take inspiration from a number of real-world coins, particularly American and British gold bullion coins.
The reverse-side depiction on the John Wick Continental Gold Coin bears a passing resemblance to the Gold Britannia Coin. Like the woman on the obverse of the Gold Continental, Lady Britannia carries both a shield and a weapon and wears a flowing gown. Animal iconography is also common among gold coins, such as the USA’s American Gold Eagle.
If you can’t get your hands on a real golden replica of the gold coins from John Wick, settling for one of these two classic gold coins is always a good bet.
Final Thoughts: Gold Coinage in the Wild World of John Wick
John Wick became an instant classic because of the series’ compelling main character, beautifully choreographed fight scenes, and expertly crafted universe. But the most enduring and interesting fan theories don’t involve Wick at all, but instead surround the mysterious gold coins used to facilitate nearly every transaction in the film series’ vast criminal underground.
Thanks to commentary from the director of the series, we now know the actual value of these gold coins. Instead of being traded as a commodity with a pegged value, the gold coins of John Wick function more as tradeable favors that symbolize the holder’s status in an uncertain criminal world.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
With over six years of experience reporting on precious metals, Michael Roets covers market news, buying guides, and commentary for Hero Bullion.