I appreciate the attempt, it might even have real bearing on how people approach things (thinking materialistically vs mentally or emotionally)
but pay https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay#etymonline_v_10195
has roots before and outside of currency
but pay https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay#etymonline_v_10195
has roots before and outside of currency
To the point:
1. Obviously the meaning of words change over time.
2. If this difference in metaphors has real bearing on how people act than the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, at least in its weak form, stands. That is something worth paying attention to....
now maybe "pay attention" emerged recently, that is based on the material/financial connotation, or maybe the idiom came before