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Bava Metzia 52a

בבא מציעא נ״ב ע״א

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Topic

Worn coins: the measure of אונאה, time limits for returning them, and how worn a coin can be and still be used

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about worn coins and then explains it with a ברייתא. The משנה gives רבי שמעון's measure of one-sixth and sets time limits for returning a worn coin: in cities, until you could show it to a money changer, and in villages, until ערב שבת. It adds that a coin the giver recognizes must be taken back even after a year, and that a slightly worn coin is fine for מעשר שני. The גמרא settles an apparent contradiction with a ברייתא: רב פפא says the two simply count in opposite directions. רבא and אביי explain why the תנאים argue about coins but not about garments. The full ברייתא then lists three measures of אונאה and says how worn a coin can get and still be used. אביי and רבא show that the דינר, like the סלע, may wear down to half its value. The ברייתא's wording supports רבי אמי that a דינר made from a worn שקל may be kept. Finally, רב הונא and רבי אמי argue over a rule from a משנה in כלים, and the גמרא begins an objection that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שְׁמוֹנָה פּוּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת, שְׁנֵי פּוּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת לְדִינָר.

Eight pundeyon, two pundeyon per dinar.

עַד מָתַי מוּתָּר לְהַחְזִיר?

Until when is it permitted to return it?

בִּכְרַכִּים – עַד כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּרְאֶה לַשּׁוּלְחָנִי,

In the cities: until enough time for him to show it to a money changer,

בִּכְפָרִים – עַד עַרְבֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת.

In the villages: until Shabbat eves.

The steps (26)

  1. Statementרבי שמעון's measure: one-sixth of the coin
  2. StatementTime limit for returning a worn coin
  3. StatementA recognized coin must be taken back even after a year
  4. StatementA slightly worn coin may be used for מעשר שני
  5. ChallengeThe גמרא contrasts the משנה with a ברייתא
  6. Resolutionרב פפא: the two sources count from opposite directions
  7. QuestionWhy argue about a coin but not about a garment?
  8. Responseרבא: the garment rule follows רבי שמעון
  9. Responseאביי: people forgive more on clothing than on coins
  10. StatementThe full ברייתא: three opinions on a worn סלע
  11. StatementThe ברייתא's limit for a worn coin and what to do with it
  12. ChallengeWhy does a סלע get half but a דינר only a quarter?
  13. Resolutionאביי: 'רובע' means a quarter of a שקל
  14. Proofרבא supports אביי from the exact word 'רובע'
  15. QuestionWhy measure the דינר by the שקל?
  16. ResponseA side lesson: a worn שקל can become a דינר
  17. ProofThe ברייתא supports רבי אמי
  18. QuestionWhat does 'an איסר less than that' mean?
  19. Responseאביי: an איסר more than the measure of אונאה
  20. Challengeרבא: then even a tiny amount should be forbidden
  21. Responseרבא: an איסר per דינר, following רבי מאיר
  22. StatementThe משנה in כלים about a worn סלע
  23. QuestionWhat about the other side of the limit?
  24. Responseרב הונא: cut it either way
  25. Responseרבי אמי: more than that, keep it
  26. ChallengeThe גמרא opens an objection from a teaching