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> Do Elves have money? That question could be asked about almost everyone in Middle Earth given how little discussion there is of it. The only explicit mention
by pdonis 3y ago
> Do Elves have money?
That question could be asked about almost everyone in Middle Earth given how little discussion there is of it. The only explicit mention of a price that I can remember is the twelve silver pennies that are paid to Bill Ferny for his pony (and an additional eighteen paid by Butterbur to Merry as compensation for the lost animals). One would assume that money is used in the Shire, but it is never mentioned--for example, we never see anyone actually paying for drinks at the Green Dragon. Everywhere else items just appear and there is no discussion of any of the behind the scenes processes that produce them or how those processes work.
- B1FF_PSUVM 3y ago> assume that money is used in the Shire, but it is never mentioned That would be naff
- klipt 3y agoThe book does say that Bilbo comes from a wealthy family. And becomes even richer thanks to his share of treasure from that adventure with the dragon and the dwarves.
- pdonis 3y agoYes, good point. Also the gold from the trolls in The Hobbit.
- dragonwriter 3y ago> The book does say that Bilbo comes from a wealthy family. Yes, and that the Sackville-Bagginses are particularly focused on wealth. Tolkien may not discuss specific financial exchanges in the Shire much, but he does paint a picture of the socioeconomic hierarchy and the position of the characters from the Shire within it.