🧮 In ancient times, various items were used as a means of exchange. Cowry shells, beads, precious metals. Over time, precious metals became more widely accepted as a medium of exchange due to their scarcity and durability.

🪙 In the 7th century BC, the first coins were minted in modern-day Turkey. Those coins were a mixture of gold and silver. Many other cultures began minting their own coins.

💸 In the Middle Ages, paper money emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty, 618-907 AD. This spread to Europe and other parts of the world due to its lighter weight and greater ease of use.

👨‍💻 In the 20th century, the use of paper money and coins was primarily replaced by electronic forms of payment.