By "Medieval Ages" I am primarily looking for pre-1600's stuff, it can even date back to B.C.E. , I am just rather curious as to what some people actually fell for and what others got away with.
I have heard of sales of fake 'relics' as well as shaving down coins for precious metals while keeping coin value, but that can't be it, can it?
I remember in this game I had called Medieval 2: Total War the merchants in the game could acquire a trait called "Trick abacus" where the description was something along the lines of "You see, when you carry the two over here you end up owing 100 florins more..."
So basically stuff along those lines. Thank you for any insight you can provide!
One common concern in the ancient world and later were merchants who used false weights or rigged scales. When you bought a pound of x, he'd use lighter weights so that you'd get less than a pound, and the opposite if you were selling to him.
This actually shows up in the Jewish Scriptures fairly often as a complaint God makes against unjust Israelite merchants:
"The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him." Proverbs 11:1
"The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him" Proverbs 20:23
"Do not have two differing weights in your bag--one heavy, one light." Deuteronomy 25:13
Very interesting question; I eagerly await responses. Also, follow-up question: if you were a commoner and found out you'd been scammed by some means, what options did you have as far as recourse was concerned?