Mishnayos Bava Metzia Perek 4 Mishnah 1
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בבא מציעא פרק ד׳ משנה א׳
There is a halakhic principle that when one purchases an item, the payment of the money does not effect the transaction. The transaction is effected only by means of the buyer’s physically taking the item into his possession, e.g., by pulling the item. Payment of money by the buyer creates only a moral obligation for the seller to sell him the item. When two types of currency are exchanged for each other, one of the types will have the status of the money being paid, and the other will have the status of the item being purchased. Handing over the former will not effect the transaction, while handing over the latter will. The mishna teaches: When one purchases gold coins, paying with silver coins, the gold coins assume the status of the purchased item and the silver coins assume the status of money. Therefore, when one party takes possession of the gold coins, the other party acquires the silver coins. But when one party takes possession of the silver coins, the other party does not acquire the gold coins. In an exchange of silver coins for copper coins, when one party takes possession of the copper coins, the other party acquires the silver coins. But when one party takes possession of the silver coins, the other party does not acquire the copper coins. In an exchange of flawed coins for unflawed coins, when one party takes possession of the flawed coins, the other party acquires the unflawed coins. But when one party takes possession of the unflawed coins, the other party does not acquire the flawed coins. In an exchange of an unminted coin for a minted coin, when one party takes possession of an unminted coin [asimon], the other party acquires a minted coin. But when one party takes possession of a minted coin, the other party does not acquire an unminted coin. In an exchange of a coin for movable property, when one party takes possession of the movable property the other party acquires the coin. But when one party takes possession of the coin, the other party does not acquire the movable property. This is the principle: With regard to those who exchange all forms of movable property, each acquires the property of the other, i.e., the moment that one of the parties to the exchange takes possession of the item that he is acquiring, e.g., by means of pulling, the other party acquires the item from the first party.
הַזָּהָב קוֹנֶה אֶת הַכֶּסֶף, וְהַכֶּסֶף אֵינוֹ קוֹנֶה אֶת הַזָּהָב. הַנְּחֹשֶׁת קוֹנָה אֶת הַכֶּסֶף, וְהַכֶּסֶף אֵינוֹ קוֹנֶה אֶת הַנְּחשֶׁת. מָעוֹת הָרָעוֹת קוֹנוֹת אֶת הַיָּפוֹת, וְהַיָּפוֹת אֵינָן קוֹנוֹת אֶת הָרָעוֹת. אֲסִימוֹן קוֹנֶה אֶת הַמַּטְבֵּעַ, וְהַמַּטְבֵּעַ אֵינוֹ קוֹנֶה אֶת אֲסִימוֹן. מִטַּלְטְלִין קוֹנִים אֶת הַמַּטְבֵּעַ, וְהַמַּטְבֵּעַ אֵינוֹ קוֹנֶה אֶת הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין. זֶה הַכְּלָל, כָּל הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין קוֹנִין זֶה אֶת זֶה:
Bartenura
הזהב קונה את הכסף. כל דבר שהוא חשוב להיות מטבע וחריף לינתן בהוצאה, דין מעות יש לו, ואינו קונה את שכנגדו שאינו חשוב מטבע ואינו חריף בהוצאה כמותו. ומי שאין טבעו חשוב וחריף, דין פירות יש לו, ומשיכתו הוא קיום דבר. לפיכך מכי משך האחד דינרי זהב, קנה השני דינרי כסף בכל מקום שהם, ואין אחד מהם יכול לחזור בו. דדינרי זהב הוו פירות לגבי דינרי כסף:
והכסף אינו קונה את הזהב. דדינרי כסף שהם חריפים בהוצאה, דין מעות יש להם לגבי דינרי זהב. ואם משך האחד דינר כסף, לא קנה האחר דינר זהב עד שימשוך, דמעות אינן קונות. והיינו טעמא נמי שנחושת קונה את הכסף, דפרוטות של נחושת שאין טיבען חשוב כל כך, הוו פירי לגבי דינרי כסף, והכסף אינו קונה את הנחושת:
מעות הרעות. שנפסלו:
אסימון. שנעשה במדת המטבע היוצא אלא שעדיין לא טבעו עליו צורה:
כל המיטלטלין קונין זה את זה. אם החליף אלו באלו, כיון שמשך האחד קנה חבירו. והאי כל, לאתויי אפילו כיס מלא מעות בכיס מלא מעות:
הזהב קונה את הכסף – Each thing that is considered to be a coin and currently passing to be given in expenditure (of money), it has the law of coinage. But where it is not considered to be a coin and currently passing, it has the law of merchandise. And his taking possession by drawing towards one’s self the object to be acquired is the establishment of the matter. Therefore, from when one draws [towards oneself] the gold denar, the second has acquired the silver denar in whatever place they are, and neither one of them can retract in this, for the golden denars are [considered] produce in regard to the silver denars.
והכסף אינו קונה את הזהב – since the silver denars are currently passing in expenditure [of money], they have the law of money with regard to golden denars. And if one [of them] pulled the silver denars, the other did not acquire the golden denars, until he pulls [the golden denars], for the money does not purchase, and that is the reason also why cooper acquires the silver, for pennies of copper whose passing is not so important [in the expenditure of money], they are produce in regard to the silver denars, and the silver does not purchase the copper.
מעות הרעות – which became invalidated
אסימון – that was made in the manner of current coinage but it still had not stamped upon it a feature.
כל המיטלטלין קונין זה את זה – if he exchanged these for those, since the one that pulled/drew towards one’s self, the other fellow acquired [the other object]. And this word כל/”all” – includes even a purse filled with money [in exchange] for a purse filled with money.