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Cash

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Cash is money in a tangible, physical form. It usually consists of banknotes and coins. In financial accounting, cash is a current asset. This means it is something valuable that can be accessed immediately. People use cash to pay for goods and services right away. It also acts as a reserve for unexpected costs. Having cash helps people manage negative cash flow. It can also help avoid problems in financial markets.

Flickr - Nic's events - London - 14-15 Dec 2007 - 034
Flickr - Nic's events - London - 14-15 Dec 2007 - 034

The history of cash involves many different materials. After the Western Roman Empire fell, Western Europeans used silver jewelry. They also used hacksilver, which are silver objects hacked into pieces. In the early Middle Ages, Venetian merchants used silver bars for large trades. They also began using paper bills. These bills instructed a banker to make payments. Other regions, like the Byzantine Empire, also used marked silver bars for large payments.

Ancientchinesecoins
Ancientchinesecoins

As the world economy grew, new types of coins appeared. After the colonization of South America, silver supplies increased. This led to the 8 reales, a Spanish coin used for international trade. The Venetian ducat was a famous gold counterpart. Rulers earned money through seigniorage. This is the difference between a coin's value and the metal's value. Some people tried to copy successful coins. These imitations were often lighter in weight. This undermined the popularity of the original coins.

China used paper money long before Europe did. The Tang dynasty used paper money 500 years before it became common in Europe. In the 13th century, Marco Polo visited China. He saw the Great Kaan use parts of the Mulberry Tree to make paper. A seal was used to authenticate the paper. Forgery was a serious crime in China. In the 17th century, Europe began using paper money. This happened because there was a shortage of precious metals. The Bank of England later used paper money to help finance the Peninsular War.

Credit-cards
Credit-cards

The English East India Company also played a major role in coinage. In 1671, they established a mint in Bombay, also known as Bombaim. In 1677, the Crown sanctioned the production of silver rupees. These coins were struck by the authority of Charles II. In the Madras region, the company used many units. These included pagodas, fanams, and cash. This complex system lasted until 1818. After that, the rupee became the main unit of currency for their operations.

Today, cash is a smaller part of the total money supply. Many people now live in a cashless society. This is a society where digital forms, like credit cards, are preferred. However, cash still has many important uses. It allows for anonymous payments without sharing personal data. It also helps people control their spending through physical payment. For children, cash is an educational tool for learning about assets. Some people also prefer the haptic experience, which is the sense of touch.

Economic theory explains why people hold cash. John Maynard Keynes identified three main motives. The transactions motive covers daily business needs. The precautionary motive is for saving during crises. The speculative motive relates to future interest rate changes. Even as electronic payments grow, cash circulation fluctuates. For example, the amount of US dollars in circulation rose 42% between 2007 and 2012. The amount of euros also rose 34% between 2008 and 2013. Cash remains a unique tool with no perfect substitute.

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