The physical form of money is NOT important.
Money is:
1. A medium of exchange - so long as both parties agree to use a thing to exchange for goods or services, it is money.
2. A store of value - money need not be transferred immediately. If you trade a sheep for money, you can wait until next week to trade it for bread.
3. A means of accounting - money allows for the tracking of value over time. If you sell 15 sheep this year for X money and then sell 15 sheep again next year for Y money you can see whether you are increasing or decreasing your trading value.
That's it.
SpyNavy
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Yes, Francisco’s money speech rocks. I describes money to a “t”, and also describes our government fairly accurately. I like to re-read it from time to time.