- "A hundred students left the Arcanum every year, perhaps a quarter of them with their guilders."
- ―Kvothe[1]
A guilder is the badge of office granted to an arcanist upon graduation from the University.
Description[]
A guilder, also called a gilthe, is the only way to be certain a person is a true arcanist. It appears to be nothing more than a flat piece of lead. However, when touched by anyone other than the arcanist it belongs to, it causes a numbing sensation that slowly spreads throughout the body.
In The Chronicle[]
Members of the University earn their guilders generally ten terms after their promotion to El'the. It is the proof of a conclusive education from the institution.
Kvothe confirms that Caudicus is a real arcanist through touching it, and feeling the numbing sensation which should be felt.
Speculation[]
It is believed by some fans that the guilders functions are imbued by the use of sygaldry. Others believe the item may function as a gram.
Guilder is likely a reference to the country of the same name in the novel and movie, The Princess Bride, which is, itself, a reference to a form of antiquated Dutch currency.