Literature
Estimating the Number of Coins in Erebor’s Hoard Based on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Estimating the Number of Coins in Erebor’s Hoard Based on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Following the release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the number of precious coins in the dwarf kingdom of Erebor has sparked much interest and discussion. Much of this intrigue stems from the movie's portrayal of Smaug's gold hoard, which is significantly larger than originally imagined. This article will explore the possibility of realistically estimating the number of Erebor's coins based solely on what we saw in the movie.
The Digital Insight: Estimating Smaug’s Hoard
Back in 2014, a write-up for Wired Magazine attempted an estimation of the amount of gold Smaug had based on the movie trailer. The author realized he had seriously underestimated the volume of gold in Smaug's hoard by the time he saw the final product. Not only did the movie vastly increase the number of gold coins, but it also pushed the limits of known energy sources, emphasizing just how unrealistic it would be to melt such a significant amount of gold for a giant statue.
Tolkien's Vision vs. The Movie
J.R.R. Tolkien, in his written works, gave us a vague idea of the dwarven hoard in Erebor. In The Hobbit and beyond, he described vast amounts of gold and treasure, but the specific quantity was often left to the reader's imagination. According to Tolkien, Erebor was known for its wealth, with the statement from Thorin Oakframe: “There is a mountain of gold and silver in my hall that would feed us and defend us and make us the greatest of all under the sun.”
However, the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug surpassed Tolkien's vision, showcasing an exponential amount of gold coins, possibly more than the total known gold reserves on Earth. This portrayal suggests a massive increase in the dwarven hoard, particularly when combined with silver coins and other precious metals.
Mathematical Estimations
To attempt a realistic estimation, we need to consider the scale shown in the movie. The volume of gold coins in the hoard can be estimated by analyzing scenes where the coins are shown. For instance, the scene where Bilbo and the company of dwarves navigate through the mountain of gold provides a good reference. Based on visual cues, each stack of gold coins could be estimated to be around 1 meter high, 1 meter wide, and 0.5 meters deep.
Considering this, a single cubic meter of gold coins could contain around 1,000 coins. If we assume that the entire hoard is packed into a similar volume, we can begin to estimate the total number. However, the actual volume of the hoard in the movie is much larger, indicating an exponentially higher number of coins.
Plaguing Energy Requirements
The movie also presents an interesting challenge in terms of the energy required to melt such a vast amount of gold for Smaug's statue. According to the article by the Wired author, even with modern energy sources, it would be impossible to melt that much gold without causing an apocalyptic scenario. This emphasizes the sheer scale of the hoard and the incredible wealth it represents.
The scale of the hoard in the movie suggests a wealth beyond comprehension, making realistic estimations challenging. However, we can surmise that the number of coins in Erebor is likely in the billions, based on visual cues and the exponential increase in the movie's portrayal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the estimation of the number of coins in Erebor’s hoard based on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug presents an interesting challenge. While we can make educated guesses based on visual references and the scale depicted in the movie, the actual number of coins is likely to be in the billions. This portrayal not only enhances our understanding of dwarven wealth but also raises questions about the practicality of such a massive hoard.