什么是货币

　　Money is a word common to all the basic functions of bank. Money can be defined as anything which passes from hand to hand and is generally acceptable in the settlement of a debt. Although most countries now use a system of bank notes and coins， many different commodities have been used as money by people in various parts of the world and at various times in history. Beads，stones， seashells， paper， precious metals such as gold and silver， base metals such as iron have all been used. All of those， at the time of their use as money， passed freely from hand to hand and were generally acceptable in the settlement of a debt.

　　货币是银行在履行其基本职能中最常见的词，货币可以定义为自由流通，并在清算债务时被普遍接受的任何商品。虽然大多数国家目前实行一种钞票和硬币的货币体系，但在世界不同的地区和不同的历史阶段，许多各式各样的商品也都充当过货币。珍珠、石具、海贝、纸张、金银等贵金属、铁等贱金属都充当过货币。所有这些商品在充当货币时期，都曾自由流通，而且在清算债务时被普遍接受。

　　We are all pleased to receive money as a birthday present and expect to be paid a sum of money at the end of a week's or a month's work. This is not because we like the picture on the bank notes or the color of coins. Money by itself gives us no benefit —only by spending it can we obtain the thing we want. Without some form of money in circulation， the range of goods and services available to us would be considerably reduced and business transactions would be difficult to carry on.　　

　　我们都很乐意接受货币作为生日礼物，在工作一周或一个月以后都想得到货币报酬，这不是因为我们喜欢钞票的图案或硬币的颜色，货币本身不能给我们带来任何好处——只有将货币投入使用，我们才能获得所需的商品。如果没有某种流通货币，可供我们使用的商品和劳务的范围将大大缩小，商品交易也难以进行。