Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Responsa for Bava Kamma 194:10

והא קא זיילין פירי אמר רב אשי חזינן אי מחמת טיבעא זיל מנכינן ליה

that there was an enactment that all kinds of money should be current in Jerusalem?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How then were Babylonian coins not current there? ');"><sup>16</sup></span> — Said R. Zera: This is no difficulty, as the latter statement refers to the time when Israel had sway [in Eretz Yisrael] over the heathen whereas the former referred to a time when the heathen governed themselves.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A euphemism for Israel. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: What was the coin of Jerusalem?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. p. 556. n. 7. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> [The names] David and Solomon [were inscribed] on one side and [the name of] Jerusalem on the other. What was the coin of Abraham our Patriarch? — An old man and an old woman<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Abraham and Sarah. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> on the one side, and a young man and a young woman<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Isaac and Rebeccah. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> on the other. Raba asked R. Hisda: What would be the law where a man lent his fellow something on [condition of being repaid with] a certain coin,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 566, n. 4. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> and that coin meanwhile was made heavier?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [The question is according to the view of Rab, ibid., that payment has to be made with the coin that had currency at the time.] ');"><sup>22</sup></span> — He replied: The payment will have to be with the coins that have currency at that time. Said the other: Even if the new coin be of the size of a sieve? — He replied: Yes, Said the other: Even if it be of the size of a 'tirtia'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A quoit of certain size. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> — He again replied. Yes. But in such circumstances would not the products have become cheaper?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A larger supply being obtained by the heavier coin, and the increase would appear as usury. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> — R. Ashi therefore said: We have to look into the matter. If it was through the [increased weight of the] coin that prices [of products] dropped we would have to deduct [from the payment accordingly],

Teshuvot Maharam

Q. A lent money to B. Before repayment was due, the coins were discontinued and new coins were issued in their stead weighing more than the old coins. The increase in weight, however, was less than twenty-five percent (cf. B. K. 98a). How is B to repay his debt to A?
A. If A specified at the time the loan was made that he was to be repaid a certain number of coins, B must repay him the same number of new coins, though he will thus repay more precious metal than what he borrowed, since an increase in the metal of less than twenty-five percent does not affect prices. But, if A did not specify the manner of repayment, he is to receive the same amount of precious metal as he lent to B, in new coins.
SOURCES: L. 209.
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