[pjc50]

> "This is the first time in human history anyone other than kings or governments or gods can create their own money"

So-called "free banking" where banks issued their own currency and convertible debt instruments was quite popular before the 20th century. And there have been a few places issuing local pseudo-currency (Bristol Pound et al).

(There's also the story of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alves_dos_Reis , although he was really issuing someone else's money)

[heurist]

It's one reason we have the fed in the US.