Currency in Aman and Arda?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

I just saw something very interesting in Unfinishes Tales, of the Druedain: "...the Atani had a knowledge of metals and smith-craft before they came to Beleriand, for metals were hard to come by and forged weapons and tools very costly.

So. There was a sort of monetary system perhaps, even at that time with the Edain...

Well, "costly" does not have to mean price in coins. Especially in this context of early times, it simply means that they were rare. Imagine some ancient cultures of our Earth in their beginnings, the weapons there were costly too, when there still was not anything like money. It simply meant that you had to give twenty cows or two horses for a sword (and a bad one, at that).

It does not really make sense for the Edain to use any monetary system before they came to Beleriand, what for, expecially if they were just tribal, migrating people (and basically all in one place - who would they trade with)?

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Well, "costly" does not have to mean price in coins. Especially in this context of early times, it simply means that they were rare. Imagine some ancient cultures of our Earth in their beginnings, the weapons there were costly too, when there still was not anything like money. It simply meant that you had to give twenty cows or two horses for a sword (and a bad one, at that).

It does not really make sense for the Edain to use any monetary system before they came to Beleriand, what for, expecially if they were just tribal, migrating people (and basically all in one place - who would they trade with)?

True. But that's just my interpretation, though your answer is more realistic. I just like to think there was some kind of exchange system that went beyond a simple barter system. You're right, they probably traded in terms of cloth and cows, but I think there might have been a monetary system lurking around somewhere...