Money Through the Ages

No one really takes a good hard look at money these days. It is, however, the pride of every nation. Here we take a look at the faces of money across Asia, noting each prominent element

Money may not grow on trees, but the overwhelming majority (about 95 percent) of the raw material used to make paper money comes from wood. Paper currency first developed in Tang Dynasty China during the 7th century, although true paper money did not appear until the 11th century, during the Song Dynasty. The usage of paper currency later spread throughout the Mongol Empire and Yuan Dynasty China. European explorers like Marco Polo introduced the concept in Europe during the 13th century, Napoleon issued paper banknotes in the early 1800s, and the rest, as they say, is history.