Money: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
m (Added information, added references)
No edit summary
Line 21: Line 21:


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.
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.
It was and partially related to how certain critics believed that Tolkien's rustic utopia of The Shire was espousing a specifically "[[wikipedia:Luddite|Luddite]]" agenda.{{fact}}


==See Also==
==See Also==
Line 28: Line 26:
* [[Canath]]/[[Tharni]]
* [[Canath]]/[[Tharni]]


{{references}}
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Currencies]]
[[Category:Objects]][[Category:Currencies]]
[[Category:Objects]]

Revision as of 06:44, 10 October 2012

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.

Money, specifically minted coin money, was used in Middle-earth through the Third Age.

History

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".[1]

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".[2]

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.[3] A gold piece was regarded as a particularly extravagant reward for good news.

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).[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.

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