Whether a theoretical system is realistic or not has been a concern in economics, particularly in monetary theory, over the past century. Following John R. Hicks' proposal that a realistic monetary theory could be constructed along an evolutionary path, starting with the workings of a real...

Between the creation of currency in the 7th century BC and the general monetization of trade, including the smallest types, during the 19th century, mints were never able to produce enough currencies to meet the needs of people. These needs differed according to social strata, rulers wanted...