All of the foregoing applies only when the pledgee produces a replacement that is comparable in description and worth. If he, too, is unaware of its value, the matter is referred to the pledgor. Should the pledgor be able to describe the article and know its attributes, he makes an oath to that effect and it is then appraised. If he does not know its description, he swears instead to its value.

If he does know the description, and the appraisal of that description—or, where the description is unknown, the appraisal itself—shows that the item was worth more than the debt, and the pledgee accepts the pledgor’s description as accurate, the pledgee must pay the pledgor whatever surplus exceeds the debt.

Should the pledgee reject the pledgor’s description, the pledgor must swear to the description he has claimed; between the two of them he is deemed truthful up to the amount for which the item was originally pledged, and that amount of the debt is discharged. The pledgee must then swear concerning the surplus; if he refuses to take the oath, he is liable for it.

If the pledgor and the pledgee agree on the description of the collateral but differ over the amount of the debt secured by it, the pledgee’s word—supported by an oath—prevails up to the value of the pledge, and he is not believed regarding any sum beyond that. As to any excess, the pledgor’s statement, backed by an oath, prevails, for it is he against whom the claim is made. This holds where neither party can produce evidence: the one who swears is cleared, while the one who refuses must pay the excess on account of his refusal and the oath of his opponent.

When they disagree about the debt and the pledge is still intact, and the pledge equals the pledgee’s entitlement, the pledgee takes what is owed to him and has priority over the pledge—unless the pledgor chooses to pay the amount on which the pledgee has sworn and reclaim his property.