Money in ME - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gimli Son Of Gloin · 05-13-2002, 08:21 PM

What kind of currency is used where in ME?

Nimrodel · 05-13-2002, 08:49 PM

The only reference to money I can remember is when Barliman paid Merry for the missing ponies, and no names or denominations were listed that I can remember.

Birdland · 05-13-2002, 10:18 PM

Well, I know Bilbo gave Sam a bag of gold coins; the last of the "Smaug vintage". And in HoME Vol. 6, Tolkien makes mention of "silver pennies" (which were worth considerably more than a penny.)

So there were coins of some kind. I image each province or kingdom had their own coin, but since they were made of gold and silver, they were probably universally acceptable whereever money was needed in Middle Earth.. which wasn't too many places.

Of course, after Bree, I don't think the Fellowship had to pay for much of anything. And once Frodo destroyed the ring, I imagine "his money was no good" about whereever he went. At least until he got back to the Shire.

Gwaihir the Windlord · 05-14-2002, 01:02 AM

Shops in ME would have accepted any form of gold or silver currency, I would imagine. Laws were more lax in those days. Varying from shop to shop, gold and silver coins would have been universally accepted in trading, and some may even have taken the copper or lead pennies that travellers offered.

Kuruharan · 05-14-2002, 07:23 AM

Don't forget that Middle earth is roughly based on the Dark Ages. Barter was an important means of economic exchange in the Dark Ages and I expect that the same was true in Middle earth.

05-13-2002, 08:21 PM	#1
Gimli Son Of Gloin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Halls of Montezuma, and the Shores of Tripoli Posts: 495	Money in ME What kind of currency is used where in ME? __________________ The Few, the Proud, the Marines.

05-13-2002, 08:49 PM	#2
Nimrodel Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Golden Wood Posts: 48	The only reference to money I can remember is when Barliman paid Merry for the missing ponies, and no names or denominations were listed that I can remember. __________________ Beside the falls of Nimrodel,By water clear and cool, Her voice as falling silver fell Into the shining pool

05-14-2002, 07:23 AM	#5
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,589	Don't forget that Middle earth is roughly based on the Dark Ages. Barter was an important means of economic exchange in the Dark Ages and I expect that the same was true in Middle earth. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

05-13-2002, 10:18 PM	#3
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Well, I know Bilbo gave Sam a bag of gold coins; the last of the "Smaug vintage". And in HoME Vol. 6, Tolkien makes mention of "silver pennies" (which were worth considerably more than a penny.) So there were coins of some kind. I image each province or kingdom had their own coin, but since they were made of gold and silver, they were probably universally acceptable whereever money was needed in Middle Earth.. which wasn't too many places. Of course, after Bree, I don't think the Fellowship had to pay for much of anything. And once Frodo destroyed the ring, I imagine "his money was no good" about whereever he went. At least until he got back to the Shire.

05-14-2002, 01:02 AM	#4
Gwaihir the Windlord Essence of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Evermore Posts: 1,420	Shops in ME would have accepted any form of gold or silver currency, I would imagine. Laws were more lax in those days. Varying from shop to shop, gold and silver coins would have been universally accepted in trading, and some may even have taken the copper or lead pennies that travellers offered.