Fiat money derives its value from government regulation rather than being backed by a commodity like gold. It originated in 11th century China and its use became widespread during later Chinese dynasties. Marco Polo observed that paper money issued by Kublai Khan was readily accepted as a medium of exchange throughout his empire. Some of the earliest forms of fiat currency outside of China included "bills of credit" issued by American colonies to pay obligations and provincial taxes. After World War I, many governments suspended redeeming currency for gold or silver, leading to hyperinflation in some countries from excessive money printing without responsibility for economic consequences.

1. FIAT Money

2. FIAT Money
Let it be done!

3. What is Fiat Money?
• Fiat money is currency which derives its
value from government regulation or law. It
differs from commodity money, which is
based on a good, often a precious metal
such as gold or silver, which has uses other
than as a medium of exchange.

5. Fiat Money

6. History of Fiat Money
Fiat money originated in 11th century
China, and its use became widespread during
the Yuan and Ming dynasties.
The Song Dynasty in China was the first to
issue paper money, jiaozi, around the 10th
century AD.

7. • All these pieces of paper are,
issued with as much solemnity
and authority as if they were of
pure gold or silver... and indeed
everybody takes them readily,
for wheresoever a person may
go throughout the Great Kaan's
dominions he shall find these
pieces of paper current, and
shall be able to transact all sales
and purchases of goods by
means of them just as well as if
they were coins of pure gold.
• —Marco Polo, The Travels of
Marco Polo

8. Yuan dynasty banknotes are the earliest known
fiat money.

9. • An early form of fiat currency in the
American Colonies were "bills of credit".
• Provincial governments produced notes
which were fiat currency, with the promise to
allow holders to pay taxes in those notes. The
notes were issued to pay current obligations
and could be called by levying taxes at a later
time.

10. Since the notes were denominated
in the local unit of account, they were
circulated from person to person in
non-tax transactions.
These types of notes were issued
particularly in Pennsylvania, Virginia
and Massachusetts.
Such money was sold at a discount
of silver, which the government would
then spend, and would expire at a
fixed point in time later.

11. 20th century
After World War I, in theory, governments still
promised to redeem notes in specie on demand.
However, the costs of the war and the massive
expansion afterward made governments suspend
redemption in specie. Since there was no direct
penalty for doing so, governments were not
immediately responsible for the economic
consequences of printing more money, which led
to hyperinflation – for example the hyperinflation
in theWeimar Republic.

12. • Kuan note is the oldest known banknote in
the world. It was made in China circa 1380.
• The first paper money in England was issued
in the early 1600s as fiat money.

13. Fiat money has two
characteristics.
a) It does not
represent anything
of intrinsic value.
b) It is decreed to be
legal tender

14. Yuan dynasty banknotes are the
earliest known fiat money.