daf bit: Bava Metzia 52

[cellio]

The talmud (and halacha in general) is very concerned about ona'ah, overreaching. This is the principle that prevents overcharging for goods, among other things. Today the discussion is about the value of coins. This discussion takes place in a time when coins (a) were not completely uniform and (b) were measured by actual value, as opposed to modern currency where your $1 bill isn't actually worth a dollar in materials, but it stands in for $1 in value. So we're talking about coins with intended value that might actually be a bit under.

When someone buys something with coins, and the coins were deficient, the mishna tells us that the seller is allowed to retract the sale if he acts quickly enough. And how quickly is that? In a town, it is until he can show the coins to a moneylender (who is an expert appraiser). In a village, which is assumed here to have no moneylenders, he has until the eve of the next Shabbat, because in buying what he needs for Shabbat he will find out the real value of the coins. All that said, a buyer who recognizes his coin is required to accept it back even after twelve months. (52a)

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

"overreaching' aka rules lawyering. *contemplates*