Helen Wang discusses the development of paper money and explores how civilisation finally accepted something with no intrinsic worth having great value.
"Money. You don't know where it's been,
But you put it where your mouth is.
And it talks." (Money, by Dana Gioia)
The history of money stretches back some 11,000 years. There have been certain key moments in its development and each essay tells their story and the resonance that these revolutionary blips have had ever since.
5. Paper Money - Dr. Helen Wang, Curator of East Asian Money at the British Museum the development of paper money - partly brought about by a shortage of copper - and explores how civilisation finally came round to the acceptance of something of no intrinsic value having great value.
Producer: Paul Kobrak.
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- Fri 17 Jun 201122:45BBC Radio 3
- Fri 3 Aug 201222:45BBC Radio 3
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