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'''Money'', specifically minted coin money, was used in Middle-earth through the Third Age.
'''Money''', specifically minted coin money, was used in the [[Westlands]] as early as the [[Third Age]].
 
==History==
In [[Gondor]], the chief currency was the [[Castar]]; a small silver coin known as the [[Tharni]] was worth one-fourth of a Castar.<ref>{{PM|Languages}}, p. 45</ref>


Money is chiefly mentioned in relation to the trading town of [[Bree]].  At the end of the Third Age, a pony was considered to be worth about four silver pennies.  The well-to-do owner of the [[Prancing Pony]], [[Barliman Butterbur]], considered a loss of 30 silver pennies to be a considerable blow.  A gold piece was regarded as a particularly extravagant reward for good news.  
[[Azog]] threw a money purse at [[Nár (companion of Thrór)|Nár]] containing "few coins of little worth" (which the Dwarves later stuffed in the mouth of Azog's decapitated head after his defeat).<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref>


[[Azog]] threw a money purse at [[Nar]] containing "few coins of little worth" (which the Dwarves later stuffed in the mouth of Azog's decapitated head after his defeat).
When [[Bilbo Baggins]] rushed from his door to meet [[Thorin]] and his party of dwarves at the [[Green Dragon|Green Dragon Inn]], he found himself outside without "a hat, a walking stick, or any ''money'', or anything that he usually took with him when he went out".<ref>{{H|Mutton}}</ref>


Much of the gold and silver wealth of Dwarf-horde of [[Smaug]], appears to have been minted.  [[Bilbo Baggins]] took home two chests from the horde, one containing gold coins and the other silver coins, and as a result (in addition to his family's pre-existing wealth) lived very comfortably for the next 50 years and was considered quite rich. In addition to the Hobbits of Bree, the Hobbits of the Shire apparently dealt in coin money as well, otherwise they might not have been so eager to search [[Bag End]] after Bilbo left, looking for secret treasure rooms.
After the death of [[Smaug]] and the destruction of [[Esgaroth]] the people were angry at the [[Master of Lake-town]] and declared, "We have had enough of the old men and the ''money-counters''!" Others took up the cry of "Up with the Bowman (meaning [[Bard]]) and down with ''Moneybags''".<ref>{{H|Fire}}</ref>


==Notes==
Much of the gold and silver wealth of Dwarf-horde of Smaug appears to have been minted.  [[Bilbo Baggins]] took home two chests from the horde, one containing gold and the other silver,<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref> and as a result (in addition to his family's pre-existing wealth) lived very comfortably for the next 50 years and was considered quite rich.  In addition to the [[Hobbits of Bree]], the [[Hobbits of the Shire]] apparently dealt in coin money as well, otherwise they might not have been so eager to search [[Bag End]] after Bilbo left, looking for secret treasure rooms.
In ''The Complete Guide to Middle-earth'' by Robert Foster, the entry for "Money" on page 344 makes it a point to say that "contrary to the claims of some, there are references to money in ''The Lord of the Rings''". Apparently, in the early "deplorable cultus" days of Tolkien fandom, there were some accusations that "money" (coin money used as actual "currency") did not exist in Middle-earth.  Certain anti-capitalist elements championed the story for promoting such an agenda, while pro-capitalist forces criticized the books on this point.  This is similar to (and partially related to) how certain critics believed that Tolkien's rustic utopia of The Shire was espousing a specifically "Luddite" agenda.
 
In reality, coin currency is actually present within the story, its use is simply not highlighted, particularly due to the rustic society of the Shire-Hobbits which the narrative centers around.  Similar to Medieval currency, coinage probably varied widely from region to region, but was still considered exchangeable.  Tolkien did not give more specific information on the kinds of coin money found in Middle-earth, but as he infamously complained, botanists are upset that he did not give a full categorization of all planets in Middle-earth, and geologists are also upset that he did not give a complete area by area survey of the mountains.
Money was mentioned in relation to the trading town of [[Bree]].  At the end of the [[Third Age]], a pony was considered to be worth about four [[silver pennies]].  The well-to-do owner of the [[Prancing Pony]], [[Barliman Butterbur]], considered a loss of 30 silver pennies to be a considerable blow.<ref name="Knife">{{FR|I11}}</ref>  A gold piece was regarded as a particularly extravagant reward for good news.
 
When [[Aragorn]] and the four hobbits were camped on the side of [[Weathertop]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] wandered to the edge of the dell.  Soon he came running back in fear and said, "I durstn't go outside this dell for any ''money''."<ref name="Knife"/>
 
==Background Information==
In ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' by [[Robert Foster]], the entry for "Money" on page 344 makes it a point to say  
 
{{quote|'''contrary to the claims of some''', there are references to money in ''The Lord of the Rings''|The Complete Guide to Middle-earth'' - "Money"}}  
 
The above phrase suggests that (in the early days of [[Tolkien fandom]]) there was some belief that coin money used as actual "currency" did not exist in Middle-earth; references to money are scarce, not highlighted and obviously forgettable among the narrative.
 
==See Also==
* [[Mirian]]/[[Castar]]
* [[Canath]]/[[Tharni]]
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Currencies]]
[[Category:Objects]]

Revision as of 23:49, 2 November 2013

Money, specifically minted coin money, was used in the Westlands as early as the Third Age.

History

In Gondor, the chief currency was the Castar; a small silver coin known as the Tharni was worth one-fourth of a Castar.[1]

Azog threw a money purse at Nár containing "few coins of little worth" (which the Dwarves later stuffed in the mouth of Azog's decapitated head after his defeat).[2]

When Bilbo Baggins rushed from his door to meet Thorin and his party of dwarves at the Green Dragon Inn, he found himself outside without "a hat, a walking stick, or any money, or anything that he usually took with him when he went out".[3]

After the death of Smaug and the destruction of Esgaroth the people were angry at the Master of Lake-town and declared, "We have had enough of the old men and the money-counters!" Others took up the cry of "Up with the Bowman (meaning Bard) and down with Moneybags".[4]

Much of the gold and silver wealth of Dwarf-horde of Smaug appears to have been minted. Bilbo Baggins took home two chests from the horde, one containing gold and the other silver,[5] and as a result (in addition to his family's pre-existing wealth) lived very comfortably for the next 50 years and was considered quite rich. In addition to the Hobbits of Bree, the Hobbits of the Shire apparently dealt in coin money as well, otherwise they might not have been so eager to search Bag End after Bilbo left, looking for secret treasure rooms.

Money was mentioned in relation to the trading town of Bree. At the end of the Third Age, a pony was considered to be worth about four silver pennies. The well-to-do owner of the Prancing Pony, Barliman Butterbur, considered a loss of 30 silver pennies to be a considerable blow.[6] A gold piece was regarded as a particularly extravagant reward for good news.

When Aragorn and the four hobbits were camped on the side of Weathertop, Sam wandered to the edge of the dell. Soon he came running back in fear and said, "I durstn't go outside this dell for any money."[6]

Background Information

In The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster, the entry for "Money" on page 344 makes it a point to say

"contrary to the claims of some, there are references to money in The Lord of the Rings'"
― The Complete Guide to Middle-earth - "Money"

The above phrase suggests that (in the early days of Tolkien fandom) there was some belief that coin money used as actual "currency" did not exist in Middle-earth; references to money are scarce, not highlighted and obviously forgettable among the narrative.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", p. 45
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
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