flix on Nostr: The Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir is interesting because it is usually translated ...
The Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir is interesting because it is usually translated saying: "Please return my money to me. Take notice that I will no longer accept copper from you that is not of fine quality. "
But the word that modern archaeologists translate as "money" is kaspum" (𒆬𒋢), which in Akkadian refers to silver.
So we have a private merchant (not a king or authority) paying for goods (copper ingots) in commodity money (silver).
Other tablets even mention weights of both copper and silver, so that prices are clearly established.
This is clear evidence of commodity money being used as Means of Exchange and Unit of Account. It's not a leap to imagine silver being used as Store of Value also. Thus fulfilling the 3 functions of money.
But the word that modern archaeologists translate as "money" is kaspum" (𒆬𒋢), which in Akkadian refers to silver.
So we have a private merchant (not a king or authority) paying for goods (copper ingots) in commodity money (silver).
Other tablets even mention weights of both copper and silver, so that prices are clearly established.
This is clear evidence of commodity money being used as Means of Exchange and Unit of Account. It's not a leap to imagine silver being used as Store of Value also. Thus fulfilling the 3 functions of money.