The History of Money

In olden days, coins played a fa smaller part in commerce than they do to day. So small was the quantity of coins that they did not even suffice for the needs of the mediaeval english royal household and estates. Coins came much later, and their use spread only unevenly, never completely replacing credit systems. Barter appears to be largely a kind of accidental by product of the use of coinage or paper money. It has mainly been what people who are used to cash transactions do when, for one reason or another, they have no access to currency.