Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bava Metzia 45 - Coins Used for Symbolic Exchange

One possible method of acquisition is "exchange" based on “…this was a custom in Israel… a man would give his shoe to the other…”. The object used for exchange must be a utensil. Usually the seller pulls a kerchief from the hand of the buyer, after which the object is sold, and the buyer is obligated to pay.

Although paying the money can’t finalize a sale, can money be used for “exchange?” To signify the “exchange,” one would announce it, or the coin would be returned. No! Even a golden coin can be removed from circulation, loosing value, which is fundamentally different from a utensil like a shoe.



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