Kiddushin 47: Betrothal Via Dates, Loans, Promissory Notes

The Gemara continues to debate betrothal based on items worth very little.  They consider dates that are eaten one after another; the rabbis differentiate between dates that are worth more or less than one peruta and connect this to how the chatan refers to the dates. The rabbis also look at betrothals made with loans and with promissory notes.  While the rabbis continue to argue about each of the particular cases presented, they seem to rely on similar principles.  The item used for betrothal must be worth at least one peruta.  That principle holds when the rabbis discuss loans, promissory notes and women who are willing to accept any betrothal at all.

Clearly the process of betrothal was rife with issues in the time of the Talmud.  It is tough to know whether the rabbis were attempting to address issues of poverty, or issues of lenient practices, or issues of real resistance to halacha.  Or something else!