As you know, there are two places in Revelation that seem to speak of this "buying and selling" metaphor - 13:17 and 6.5-6. I believe they both are used in the same manner. Here is a cut / paste for some of the narrative for 6:5-6.... for what it is worth,Yes. Revelation is primarily a symbolic book, so I don't think it makes any sense to take the buying or selling literally in terms of the buying or selling of goods and merchandise.
The words "buy" and "sell" are used figuratively sometimes in scripture, such as in this verse where both words are used figuratively.
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Revelation 6:5-6 (Third seal)
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
The black horse of the third seal in Revelation 6:5–6 paints a vivid picture of spiritual and institutional corruption during the papacy’s reign. Its rider holds a pair of scales, representing the weighing and transactional treatment of spiritual truths and leadership. The proclamation of "a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius" highlights the exploitation and manipulation within the medieval church, where sacred matters were often monetized for power and profit. While some interpret this metaphor as referencing famine or economic hardship, it might be understood as reflecting the practice of simony—the buying and selling of church positions. High-ranking roles, symbolized by wheat, required a significant price, while lesser positions, represented by barley, were more affordable.
This system corrupted the church’s mission, turning sacred offices into commodities that prioritized wealth and influence over spiritual integrity.
The living creature’s role in calling John to "come and see" aligns with their testimony that could expose the depth of corruption within the church and call for a return to genuine faith and leadership. The scales held by the rider emphasize the church’s deviation from truth, as spiritual matters were weighed and sold rather than freely shared according to God’s Word. The voice calling out during this seal appears to serve as an alert to draw attention to the depth of the church’s corruption.

