Bava Metzia

then he may say. 'Let it [sc. the produce] be redeemed for the money I have at home.'  Hence it is because he has no money with him;  but if he had money in his hand he should rather give possession thereof to his friend through meshikah,  who would then redeem [the tithe], which is a preferable [procedure], since he would then be a [real] stranger.  But if you say that coin may be acquired through barter, let him [the tithe-owner] give possession of the money [he has at home] to his friend by means of a scarf, and then let the latter redeem it!  — The latter has no scarf. Then let him give possession thereof through soil!  — He has no soil. But it is stated, 'If one is standing in a granary!' — It means in a granary not belonging to him.  And does the Tanna take the trouble of teaching us about a naked man, who possesses nought!  Hence it must surely be that coin cannot be acquired by barter.  This proves it. And R. Papa himself — retracted, as we find that R. Papa had thirteen thousand denarii at Be-Huzae,  which he transferred to R. Samuel b. Aha along with the threshold of his house.  When he [R. Samuel b. Aha] came [with the money], he [R. Papa] went forth to meet him up to Tauak. [To revert to the original discussion:] And 'Ulla said likewise: Coin cannot effect a barter; and R. Assi said likewise: Coin cannot effect a barter; and Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said likewise in R. Johanan's name: Coin cannot effect a barter. R. Abba raised an objection against 'Ulla: If his carters or labourers demanded [their wages] from a man in the market place, and he said to a money-changer, 'Give me copper coins for a denar, and I will pay them,  whilst I will return you a denar's worth  and a tressis  Out of the coins which I have at home:' then if he has money at home, it is permitted; otherwise, it is forbidden.  Now, should you think that coin cannot effect a barter, it is a loan, and hence forbidden!  Thereupon he was silent. Said he to him: Perhaps both  refer to uncoined metal which bear no imprint.  so that they rank as produce, and therefore may be acquired by barter? — Even so, he replied. This too follows from the fact that he [the Tanna] states, a denar's worth and a tressis, but does not state. a current denar  and a tressis. This proves it. R. Ashi said: After all, [the return may be] in the character of repayment, though the reference indeed is to uncoined metal: since he has them [at home], it is as though he said, 'Lend me until my son comes, or until I find the key.' Come and hear: Whatever can be used as payment for another object, as soon as one party takes possession thereof, the other assumes liability, for what is given in exchange.  'Whatever can be used as payment for another object' — what is that? Coins: which proves that coins can effect a barter! — Said Rab Judah: It means this: