A coin is as dangerous as a sword in the wrong hands.

The line draws an equivalence between economic power and physical violence: money can coerce, corrupt, and destroy lives as effectively as a weapon when controlled by someone unscrupulous. It suggests that harm is not inherent in the object (coin or sword) but in the intent and agency of the person wielding it—an idea consistent with Martin’s recurring emphasis on power’s moral ambiguity. The quote also implies that systems of exchange and patronage can become instruments of domination, funding wars, buying loyalty, or exploiting the vulnerable. In that sense, it’s a warning against underestimating “soft” power: wealth can be a tool of intimidation and control, not merely comfort or security.