Julian Ungar-Sargon

  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
Julian Ungar-Sargon copy 3.jpg

Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Dupondius - Hadrian PONT MAX TR POT COS III ANNONA AVG S C; Annona

Bava Metzia 52: Dupondium

jyungar April 20, 2024

For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 52

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The Mishna on our daf discusses ona’ah – unfair business transactions (see above, daf 50) – in a case where a coin had less value than its true weight. In this case, while Rabbi Shimon rules that ona’ah remains at one-sixth the value of the coin, other tanna’im suggest that it is a smaller amount. Rabbi Meir suggests that ona’ah will be at one-twenty-fourth the value of the coin and Rabbi Yehuda suggests one-twelfth.

Coins erode with use and using them as if new could constitute fraud.

Coins that still circulate, albeit with difficulty, should be accepted, and the one who doesn't is called stingy. After this, they should be used for necklaces or destroyed.

We explore the depreciation and devaluation of currency in antiquity.

Tags48th
  • Daf Ditty
  • Older
  • Newer

Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​