-
2500 BCE
Ancient Egypt, metal rings
Egyptians were making metal rings which some historians think they used as money -
1100 BCE
Small models of everyday objects, China
In China, rather than exchanging objects like tools and weapon, a system of using miniature replicas of the objects to be traded was used instead of the objects themselves. -
650 BCE
China
In China the first paper money was being used. -
650 BCE
Lydia ( Now western Turkey)
The first coins were made. -
650 BCE
The first paper money
Around 650 B.C in China, the first paper money was being used. After in 1685 Canadian colonies began to use paper money too and this innovation led to ha huge increase in international trade. -
600 BCE
The first coins
The first gold coin was minted by the Lydian king Croesus. Then, about 1600 Europeans were using coins made of metal. -
600 BCE
Electrum (a mix of gold and silver)
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. It has also been produced artificially and is often known as green gold. -
600 BCE
King Croesus
The first known gold coin was minted by the Lydian King Croesus. -
Coins of metal from their colonies, Europe
Europeans were using coins made of metal taken from their colonies overseas. -
Canadian colonies
Canadians colonies began to use paper money. This innovation led to a huge increase in international trade. -
Spain
Spanish eight real coin was often split up into bits to pay things. -
Pieces of eight
In the 1700s Spanish eight real coin was often split up into bits to pay for things. -
Bits
A Spanish eight real coin was often split up into bits to pay for things, leaving the bits as change. 'Bit' was an English term for a small coin. -
End of the threepenny bit in the UK
The threepenny was only scrapped in 1971 -
Debit cards
In the modern world, many people use plastic cards called debit cards to pay for things. -
Credit cards
People also use money they don't even have yet by paying with credit cards.