E26 MONEY

Bruce takes notes. Simon cashes in.

It makes the world go around... but how much do you actually know about its history? In this episode, we go from bartering to Bitcoin and from cocoa beans to million-pound coins.

Many of the images below link to interesting articles. Please feel free to click the pics.

The Mayans and Aztecs used Cocoa Beans as money and were very protective of their beans. They paid for food, clothes, taxes, gifts, and offerings to their gods using cocoa beans. Having a pocket full of beans was like having a wallet full of cash.

Canada used playing cards as money

First coin - 770BC China

A pound of Sterling Silver

A Spanish dollar cut into bits

Using a plastic note to play a record

The 100,000 dollar note

A 9th Century cheque

Cheque on a halibut

This halibut was a legal bill of exchange. The 150lb fish honoured a rates bill to the local council from businessman Randall Arnold, who was reportedly protesting the condition of roads outside his frozen food depot.

KLF burning 1million

Clipping coins

British coins make a picture

The History of Crypto

First ATM 1967

The world's biggest piggy bank

The World's Largest coin - the Big Maple Leaf

Banks issuing British banknotes