Before it got to that point the aristocracy was using it on people who were trying to get around the system and use alternative payment. They made the money "legal tender" and death was the punishment if you did not follow the law. Anyone even using a two tier price system where the item was one price with official money and another price in something else or barter.............. off with their heads. Legal tender laws - the way a government forces the inflation tax on its constituents. John |