Kesubah Payment in Devalued Austrian Banknote Currency

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Unknown recipient

Description

In the wake of Austria's 1811 Scala Patent devaluing banknotes, the Chasam Sofer rules that government banknotes carry full halachic currency status except for pidyon haben and oaths over deposits. Royal currency legislation constitutes dina d'malchusa dina, so standard kesubah amounts must be paid in full-value Schein per the Scala Patent's provisions, while excess tosefes and nedunya are converted at the Scala rate. In no case may the total payment fall below the minimum biblical kesubah amount of approximately 52⅓ Lot of refined silver.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer EH I §126

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