The monnaie de singe of the Petit-Pont

Payer en monnaie de singe, "to fob somebody off"... well, a pretty famous French expression!

But do you know it comes from the Petit-Pont in Paris?

We learn that in the book Histoire de Paris et de ses monuments (J.-A. Dulaure, 1846).

In the 13th century, king of France saint Louis received a toll right on this bridge. A toll from those who used the bridge, including animals.

Especially monkeys: 4 deniers (penny, a medieval coin) each monkey! Merchants came in Paris to sell them.

And they sold a lot, because at that time, rich people wanted their own little monkeys...

But if the monkey belonged to a jester, it was different. The owner could get past the toll free of charge if he did a show, with his creature.

They paid en monnaie de singe, literally «with monkey’s money"!