Currency for Payment of Shtar Chatzi Zakhar: Banknotes vs. Silver Coins

Description

The Chasam Sofer rules that a shtar chatzi zakhar may be paid in banknotes rather than silver coins, rejecting the view that the document clause 'over lasocher' requires silver. He argues that in contemporary Austrian economic reality banknotes are the primary currency, that requiring silver would constitute ribis ketzutzah, and that ambiguity in a document is resolved against the holder. He also rejects a migo argument regarding yakir, analyzes a grain-for-whiskey transaction, and rules that a borrower in a heter iska context is generally not believed to claim early repayment.