History of Money Virtual Exhibit

Money is anything that people will accept as payment in exchange for goods or services. Evolving for the last 10,000 years, the earliest forms of money offered a system whereby people could determine the comparative value of items (for example, an axe or a cow). Money facilitated more than just buying or selling things — it became a mark of status — a characteristic it retains today.

Eventually, someone came up with the idea of using precious metals (gold, silver and their alloys) as money. About 4,500 years ago in Mesopotamia and Egypt, gold and silver began to be traded in the form of metal bars or bits of wire. Another big development occurred around 650 B.C., when small, round lumps of electrum (a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver) were produced in a standard weight and marked by the issuer. These were the first coins known to man. Since then, the appearance of coins has changed, but their purpose as a monetary instrument has not.

First documented in China in the 8th century A.D., paper money has become the most prevalent medium of exchange, with the possible exception of credit cards.

Find out more about all types of money, along with emergency money, tokens and other currency, as you explore the HISTORY OF MONEY exhibit!

Click below on the exhibit case that you would like to view. More cases will be added periodically.
Click here to go to the main History of Money Exhibit page.

 
Lydia & the First Coins
Greek Coinage
Greek Coinage
Roman Coinage
Roman Coinage
Indian Coinage
Indian Coinage
Chinese Coinage
Chinese Coinage
Ancient Coinage of the Holy Land
Ancient Coinage of the Holy Land
Traditional Money of Africa
Traditional Money of Africa
Traditional Money of Asia and Oceania
Traditional Money of Asia and Oceania
Traditional Money of North America
Traditional Money of North America
The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages
The Revival of Coinage
The Revival of Coinage
The End of the Middle Ages
The End of the Middle Ages
The Rise of Islam
The Rise of Islam
The Silver Revolution
The Silver Revolution
First World Coinages
First World Coinages
Modern World Coins
Modern World Coins
Chinese Paper Currency
Chinese Paper Currency
European Paper Currency
European Paper Currency
Modern Paper Currency
Modern Paper Currency
German Notgeld
German Notgeld
US Bank Holiday
U.S. Bank Holiday
Hobo Nickels
Hobo Nickels
Morgan Dollars
The Collector’s Choice: Morgan Dollars
US Mint Bullion Coins
U.S. Mint Bullion Coins
US Colonial Coinage
U.S. Colonial Coinage
Coinage of the Confederation
Coinage of the Confederation
Coinage of the Early Mint
Coinage of the Early Mint
US Coins 1850-1909
U.S. Coins 1850-1909
The Renaissance of US Coinage
The Renaissance of U.S. Coinage
Modern Us Coinage
Modern U.S. Coinage
Currency of the Revolution
Currency of the Revolution
Obsolete Currency 1792-1866
Obsolete Currency 1792-1866
Federal Paper Currency
Federal Paper Currency
The National Banking System
The National Banking System
Modern US Paper Currency
Modern U.S. Paper Currency
Counterfeiting Ancient Crime
Counterfeiting: An Ancient Crime