Money
![A sample picture of a fictional ATM card. The largest part of the world's money exists only as accounting numbers which are transferred between financial computers. Various plastic cards and other devices give individual consumers the power to electronically transfer such money to and from their bank accounts, without the use of currency.](/Images/godic/202501/28/ClientCardSample4731.png")
![Song Dynasty Jiaozi, the world's earliest paper money](/Images/godic/202501/28/Jiao_zi4731.jpg")
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![Money Base, M1 and M2 in the US from 1981 to 2012](/Images/godic/202501/28/MB,_M1_and_M2_aggregates_from_1981_to_20124731.png")
Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a particular country or socio-economic context, or is easily converted to such a form. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, sometimes, a standard of deferred payment. Any item or verifiable record that fulfills these functions can be considered as money.