From Shells to Gold: How Precious Metals Became Money
After the collapse of the barter system, ancient civilizations searched for a more stable medium of exchange. Enter: precious metals. Unlike livestock or grain, metals like gold and silver didn’t spoil or require feeding — and better yet, they could be weighed, shaped, and carried.
Seashells, beads, and other rare objects were also used in different parts of the world, but over time, gold and silver won. Why? Because they were rare, durable, divisible, and — critically — universally desired.
Gold didn’t rust. Silver was easy to shape. Civilizations from Egypt to China began storing value in these shiny rocks. Eventually, governments stepped in, issuing coins stamped with royal authority — and the first official money systems were born.
Why did this matter? Because money finally became portable, durable, and — most importantly — trusted. This trust laid the foundation for everything that came next: from banks to blockchain.
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