2. The Interde pendent Development of the Relative Form of Value, and of the Equivalent FormThe degree of development of the relative form of value corresponds to that of the equivalent form. Butwe must bear in mind that the development of the latter is only the expression and result of thedevelopment of the formerThe primary or isolated relative form of value of one commodity converts some other commodity into anisolated equivalent. The expanded form of relative value, which is the expression of the value of onecommodity in terms of all other commodities, endows those other commodities with the character ofparticular equivalents differing in kind. And lastly, a particular kind of commodity acquires the characterof universal equivalent, because all other commodities make it the material in which they uniformlyexpress their valueThe antagonism between the relative form of value and the equivalent form, the two poles of thevalue-form, is developed concurrently with that form itself.The first form, 20 yds, of linen one coat, already contains this antagonism, without as yet fixing itdifferent. In the one case the relative value of the linen is expressed in the coat, in the other case theareAccording as we read this equation forwards or backwards, the parts played by the linen and the coat arerelative value of the coat is expressed in the linen. In this first form of value, therefore, it is difficult tograsp the polar contrastForm B shows that only one single commodity at a time can completely expand its relative value, andthat it acquires this expanded form only because, and in so far as, all other commodities are, with respectto it, equivalents. Here we cannot reverse the equation, as we can the equation 20 yds, of linen= l coat,without altering its general character, and converting it from the expanded form of value into the generalform of valueFinally, the form c gives to the world of commodities a general social relative form of value, becauseand in so far as, thereby all commodities, with the exception of one, are excluded from the equivalentform. A single commodity, the linen, appears therefore to have acquired the character of directexchangeability with every other commodity because, and in so far as, this character is denied to everyother commodity. [26The commodity that figures as universal equivalent, is, on the other hand, excluded from the relativevalue-form. If the linen, or any other commodity serving as universal equivalent, were, at the same timeto share in the relative form of value, it would have to serve as its own equivalent. We should then have20 yds. of linen=20 yds. of linen; this tautology expresses neither value, nor magnitude of value. Inorder to express the relative value of the universal equivalent, we must rather reverse the form C. Thisequivalent has no relative form of value in common with other commodities, but its value is relativelyexpressed by a never ending series of other commoditiesThus, the expanded form of relative value, or form B, now shows itself as the specific form of relativevalue for the equivalent commodity3. Transition fron the General Fom of Value to the Money.-FomThe universal equivalent form is a form of value in general. It can, therefore, be assumed by anycommodity On the other hand, if a commodity be found to have assumed the universal equivalent form(form C), this is only because and in so far as it has been excluded from the rest of all other commoditiesas their equivalent, and that by their own act. And from the moment that this exclusion becomes finallyrestricted to one particular commodity, from that moment only, the general form of relative value of theworld of commodities obtains real consistence and general social validityThe particular commodity, with whose bodily form the equivalent form is thus socially identified, nowbecomes the money-commodity, or serves as money. It becomes the special social function of thatcommodity, and consequently its social monopoly, to play within the world of commodities the part ofattained by one in particular-namely, gold. If, then, in form C we replace the linen by gold, we ge sethe universal equivalent. Amongst the commodities which, in form B, figure as particular equivalentsthe linen, and, in form C, express in common their relative values in linen, this foremost place has be

In passing from form A to form B, and from the latter to form C, the changes are fundamental. On theother hand, there is no difference between forms C and D, except that, in the latter, gold has assumed theequivalent form in the place of linen. Gold is in form D, what linen was in form C- the universalequivalent. The progress consists in this alone, that the character of direct and universal exchangeabilityother words, that the universal equivalent form -has now, by social custom, become finallyidentified with the substance, goldGold is now money with reference to all other commodities only because it was previously, withreference to them, a simple commodity. Like all other commodities, it was also capable of serving as anequivalent, either as simple equivalent in isolated exchanges, or as particular equivalent by the side ofothers. Gradually it began to serve, within varying limits, as universal equivalent. So soon as itmonopolises this position in the expression of value for the world of commodities, it becomes the moneycommodity, and then, and not till then, does form D become distinct from form C, and the general formof value become changed into the money-formThe elementary expression of the relative value of a single commodity, such as linen, in terms of thecommodity, such as gold, that plays the part of money, is the price-form of that commodity. Theprice-form of the linen is therefore20 yards of linen=2 ounces of gold, orif 2 ounces of gold when coined are f2, 20 yards of linen =f2The difficulty in forming a concept of the money-form, consists in clearly comprehending the universalequivalent form, and as a necessary corollary, the general form of value, form C. The latter is deduciblefrom form B, the expanded form of value, the essential component element of which, we saw, is form A,20 yards of linen= 1 coat or x commodity A=y commodity B. The simple commodity-form is therefore