By Money has always been a part of human civilization in its various manifestations for millennia. From the earliest types of barter to today’s digital currencies, money has continuously evolved and matured with its societies and cultures. This blog will explore three interesting facts about money as they relate to history, influence on life, and evolution.
1. The First Known Currency Was Made of Seashells
Though there is still some obscurity with regards to the origination of money, seashells are among the first known forms of currency. From different parts of the world, sea shells, particularly cowrie shells have been found to work as a medium of exchange in various goods and services. Durable, portable and easily obtainable at their locations, these shells proved useful for currency.
2. Money Can Influence Our Behavior
Several experiments indicate money cannot only affect influences but also one’s decision in behavior. For example, relatives’ research demonstrated this behavior when people often get reminded of money-it equals the act of selfishness and devotes lesser effort into taking the initiative in helping others-in the so-called “money priming effect.”
3. Money Has a Digital Future
As it stands, the future domain of money is digital. What had once just been featured in movies has turned into a reality as new digital currencies gain popularity, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Now, even central banks are looking forward to the release of their own digital currencies. Truly, change in the form of how money will be exchanged is changing the global financial face.
Conclusion
Money is not only multifaceted and interesting, but also has a historical past rich with a bright future. Understanding three interesting facts in this blog post can increase our awareness of what money represents in our lives.
Besides these three, there are many more interesting things to know about money. Like did you know that the word dollar comes from the German word taler-thaler which was a type of silver coin? Or that the first credit card was issued in 1950?