The first banknote, history of banknote

History of banknote: the first banknote

The banknote is not only one means of payment used with the daily newspaper. It is also a true object of collection, sought by thousands of billetophiles in France and in the world. At which time this printed paper of rectangular form it did appear? How and where the banknote was it born?

At the origins of banknote: return to the 7th century

To understand the origins of this kind of currency, it is necessary to take over the leadership of China. It is under the dynasty of Tang, having reigned from 618 to 907, that the banknote makes its appearance. At that time, it was actually about a paper money, the coins becoming too heavy to be transported by the merchants and the bankers. The system was not official: it will be necessary to expect the beginning of the 11th century so that it becomes it.

The first official banknote: return to the 11th century

Song of North remained with the power from 960 to 1127 and it is under their reign that this system of payment is officialized. According to the numismatists, the first banknote of the history makes its appearance at the 11th century with Sichuan, a province located in the mid-west of China. The ticket names jiaozi. To note, the jiaozi never replaced the coins which circulated at that time, the two means of payment being used at the same time.

Manufacturing and diffusion of first banknote

It is the government which is charged to print banknotes jiaozi. Under the dynasty of Song of North, those are diffused on a large scale. On the other hand of this success, the counterfeit prevails! To cure this problem, the government decides to manufacture banknotes thanks to matrices. This technique is thus one of the first means being used to fight against the counterfeit bills! However, these matrices were out of wood, generally out of boxwood, and became fragile in the course of time. Another technique to fight against the counterfeit was to affix the governmental seal on all banknotes issued: that helped the citizens to differentiate true papers from the counterfeit bills.

Evolution of banknote

At the 12th century, it is with the turn of another ticket to be created and put in circulation by the dynasty of Song of the South. This one names the huizi and its amount is higher than the jiaozi. One century later, the evolution continues with the invasion of China by Mongolia. A new ticket is then launched by the authorities: it names chao. The scale of its diffusion is even larger than the tickets jiaozi and huizi. How Europe did become acquainted with this system of payment? It is thanks to Marco Polo, exploring Italian being returned at the court of Kubilai Khan, that the paper money crossed the borders.The 14th century will have to be waited so that the banknote starts to be used in Italy and the 18th century so that it makes its appearance in France.