Monetary Paradoxes

That people nowadays become all the poorer, the more money they receive.

That Thomas Müntzer A radical reformer and leader of the German Peasants' War (1524–1525). The author plays on his name, as "Müntzer" also means "minter" or "money-maker." did less damage with weapons in the Peasants' War than our "minters" do with money.

That nowadays one needs no blacksmiths or locksmiths to make bars and locks against thieves and robbers, for people carry the very things that make them poor in their own purses.

That a Machiavellian destroyer of the land is much more pious than a modern-day, proper Müntzpatronus: a "mint patron" or official who authorized the production of debased, low-value coins.

That the Monetenpreger: coin-strikers or minters. are coppersmiths in the workshop original: "officina", yet in the company of noblemen they are considered peers.

That Heerpaucker: military kettle-drummers. and money-strikers concern themselves with the same object original: "circa idem objectum"; a satirical comparison implying that both professions spend their time "beating" metal—one for music, the other to strike worthless coins..

That a few people become barely rich from copper, while most become poor from silver. In this era, "silver" coins were often heavily diluted with copper, meaning the more "silver" people held, the less actual value they possessed.

That a person must pay three times as much for an ell A traditional unit of length, roughly the distance from the elbow to the fingertips, used for measuring cloth. as before, and yet he is not being cheated by the shopkeeper.

That today's monetary system makes people good Lutherans, for they must accept through faith alone A satirical reference to the Lutheran doctrine of "Sola Fide" (Faith Alone). Here, the author suggests people must simply "believe" their worthless money has value because they cannot see any actual silver in it. that it could make a Potentate A powerful ruler or sovereign. rich.

XVII.