From Silver To Paper: How Sweden Changed Money In Europe
A New Way To Carry Wealth: Long before credit cards and digital payments, people relied on coins made from precious metals. In 17th century Sweden, this system became a problem. Swedish coins were often made of copper, and they were heavy, bulky, and hard to transport. Carrying large sums meant moving massive copper plates that could weigh several pounds. This challenge pushed Sweden to try something completely new for Europe: paper money.