clay chits

Spanish translation: vales de arcilla

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:clay chits
Spanish translation:vales de arcilla
Entered by: Beatriz Ramírez de Haro

16:42 Oct 16, 2019
English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - History / Ancient Egypt
English term or phrase: clay chits
Hi! I'm translating a text regarding the history of beer and I came across the following sentences:

"Egyptian workers were paid with clay chits that they reimbursed for beer. Chits were worth 5 gallons."

I found "chit" is "a signed voucher of a small debt (as for food)" (Merriam-Webster), usually translated as "vale" or "pagaré", but since these were made of clay, I find it confusing.
I first thought it could be some kind of coin and translate it as "ficha", but according to what I've read, egyptians didn't have coins at that time (3000 BC).
Is it possible these were clay tablets with writing on it that they used as paychecks? Does it sound too bad if I translate it as "pagarés de arcilla" or "cheques de arcilla"?

I hope there's somebody who knows more about History than me that can help me. I'm open to all kinds of suggestions.

Thank you in advance!
acsriederer
Chile
Local time: 16:33
vales de arcilla
Explanation:
Creo que "vale" recoge bien el sentido y no suena nada mal.

vale2
2. m. Bono o tarjeta que sirve para adquirir comestibles u otros artículos.
https://dle.rae.es/?id=bHhdVQk|bHhmzcU|bHjoyrZ
Selected response from:

Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Spain
Local time: 20:33
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3fichas de arcilla
patinba
3vales de arcilla
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro


  

Answers


36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
fichas de arcilla


Explanation:
A chit is a token, which can be a "vale" or a "ficha"
Gomez Espelosin Javier, Historia de Grecia Antigua | Creta ...
https://www.scribd.com › doc › Gomez-Espelosin-Javier-Historia-de-Grecia-...
numerosos nodulos (una pequeña ficha de arcilla de tres caras que lleva inscrita la ..... entregaban y las raciones alimenticias que les correspondan como pago.

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 16:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Notes to answerer
Asker: Muchas gracias!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro: Sí, eso es. Acabo de ver que propones "vale" en la explicación.
34 mins
  -> Muchas gracias, Beatriz!

agree  Víctor Zamorano: Ficha es la mejor solución, me parece.
3 hrs
  -> Gracias, Victor!

agree  Sara Fairen: Fichas de arcilla se entiende perfectamente, y su uso queda descrito en la frase. "Los trabajadores egipcios recibían por su trabajo unas fichas de arcilla que podían intercambiar por raciones de cerveza. Cada ficha... etc.".".
6 days
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
vales de arcilla


Explanation:
Creo que "vale" recoge bien el sentido y no suena nada mal.

vale2
2. m. Bono o tarjeta que sirve para adquirir comestibles u otros artículos.
https://dle.rae.es/?id=bHhdVQk|bHhmzcU|bHjoyrZ

Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Spain
Local time: 20:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 232
Notes to answerer
Asker: Sí, por el contexto, creo que me quedaré con "vale". Gracias :)

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