Money
Money is central to our lives. We spend it, save it, earn it and see it every day. But have you ever really thought about money?
Early money took different forms in different pats of the world. All early money was made of a material that was thought to be valuable, and used according to a system set up by a government or established by long custom. For example, Chinese bronze coin from about 300 BC is made in shape of a knife.
Like today, people in the ancient world used money for many different things. It was useful for paying taxes, for saving, and for buying and selling. Governments made money for a number of reasons.
As coins became more widely used, different denominations were introduced. Small change was used in market place. High value coins, such as Indian Islamic gold coin of the 15th century, stored wealth. Rulers tried to keep a firm hold on their right to make coins. If their control weakened, others such as religious leaders or individual towns sometimes made their own coins.
Over the last 300 years new technology and materials have changed the way money looks. Gold and silver coins have gradually been replaced by paper money and coins made of less expensive metals. Today the appearance of money is changing again with the use of plastic cards and the Internet.
In the past most people protected their wealth by hiding it, often buried in the round. Many different containers have been used for storing money, from post to piggy banks and lockable chests. Today, most of our money is saved in banks, which first became common in the 19th century.
Coins and banknotes have been forged for as long as they have been used. Governments have tried to prevent forgery by making coins and banknotes difficult to copy and with the threat of severe punishments. Individuals have made sure they were not given forged currency by carefully checking their money.