The Nature of Galleons

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 117975


 "ohnooboe" <hautbois1 at c...> wrote:> 
>         My point is that magic takes the place of MANY of the 
things 
> we, as unfortunate Muggles, are paying for.  Electricity, 
gasoline, 
> natural gas, etc.  It's possible that taxes are paid to the MoM, 
but 
> we don't know.  Food can be created, travel is easy to come by, 
and 
> even shelter can be made.  No one has a monopoly on magic.  
> Commonwealth Spellison and Ameri-charm aren't charging a sickle a 
> spell (so far as we know...and for all you Brits, that was RIGHT 
> funny! :)  Magic is not a non-renewable resource; it's there in 
> abundance and for the taking.  So many of life's necessities can 
be 
> created, or had in some way, through magic.  That being the case, 
why 
> the drastic economic divides?  What are we (or maybe just I) 
missing 
> about the nature of money in the WW?

Potioncat:

I cut and pasted this from Quick Quills using magic, food, money as 
keywords.  I thouht I'd pasted all the important information, but I 
missed the date and real source.  But here is JKR's quote on magic 
and money.  There are probably more:
Quoting:

"Some webmaster and a boy named Alfie

Her favourite Simpsons character is Lisa, she supports Spurs 
Football Club and she thought your questions helped to make 
this ''the best interview yet''. Enjoy our (and your)
WORLD EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JK ROWLING

Your webmaster and young Alfie met JK Rowling in the London office 
of her publishers, Bloomsbury, at 9.15am on July 8 - the publication 
date of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Because of her hectic 
schedule, we were allowed only 10-15 minutes with 'Jo' but we didn't 
waste a single moment - and thanks to your questions, she described 
the interview as ''the best yet''.
So without further ado, here is our long-awaited and much-enjoyed 
exclusive interview with JKR, in a Q&A format.



Q: It seems that the wizards and witches at Hogwarts are able to 
conjure up many things, such as food for the feasts, chairs and 
sleeping bags. . .if this is so, why does the wizarding world need 
money ? What are the limitations on the material objects you can 
conjure up ? It seems unnecessary that the Weasleys would be in such 
need of money. . . (Jan Campbell)
A: Very good question (well done, Jan!!). There is legislation about 
what you can conjure and what you can't. Something that you conjure 
out of thin air will not last. This is a rule I set down for myself 
early on. I love these logical questions!"

End of Quote


So I would guess that when McGonagall waved her wand in Snape's 
office (CoS) she was moving food from the kitchen to the office.  
And Molly may have done the same thing.  Or the sauce from Molly's 
wand may have really been "empty calories."