The answer to the question posed in the title is "A myth."
Unintentionally hilarious. I'll wager that you are a veritable laugh riot at the grocery store.
Au contraire.
Even before coins existed men bartered freely if it was deemed by each to be beneficial.
Got yer degree at Sears did ya?
Next we'll hear that "fair trade" a la the unions, is free trade - when it's just unions protecting themselves from competition at our expenses. Like the tariffs/subsidies making sugar cost Americans twice as much as offshore. The very reason candy companies have relocated OUT of the US.
Back to econ 101 for the dunces.