This book explores the historical evolution of monetary theory while placing a particular focus on the relationship between currency and credit money. Rather than using traditional classifications based on schools of thought, it develops a structure for comparing monetary theories. This taxonomy better captures the diversity of perspectives with regard to money. The study presents twenty-five selected theories from the late Middle Ages to the early twentieth century, contextualizing them within their historical background. Rather than synthesizing these perspectives into a unified framework, the book provides a comparative panopticon of diverse and often contradictory ideas. In doing so, it demonstrates how debates concerning the essence, value, and function of money questions that remain pertinent in light of contemporary discussions surrounding digital currencies and Modern Monetary Theory have recurred in various forms throughout history.
