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How Money Has Changed Throughout History

From shells to cell phones, the way we exchange currency is always changing

By Allison Futterman
Mar 20, 2022 2:00 PM
Credit Cards
(Credit:Teerasak Ladnongkhun/Shutterstock)

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In one form or another, currency has existed as a unit of purchasing power for thousands of years. Used to obtain goods or services, the materials and formats have evolved over time — but have always been a representation of value by a particular society. From bartering to livestock to physical currency to digital, there’s been a continual evolution of what people have used for payment. Let’s look at five ways money has changed throughout history.

Cowrie Shells

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