ABSTRACT
THE peoples of the North, who in days of old lived for the most part honestly by bartering goods, were to be considered more fortunate than those of today, since they knew nothing about the use of money, nor desired to; although in the most distant regions they still live by barter without the exchange of coinage. As time passed the use of it would never have been discovered or allowed, had not men of good birth been ill-advised and diverted from a true evaluation of their property. But in order to further more easily the interests of an uncivilized people and age, our forefathers devised and permitted leather coins, distinguished by certain silver studs, whose value could be assessed by their weight and number.1 For many centuries this currency multiplied in the royal treasuries of the Göotar and Swedes, and was kept guarded in fortresses, as being of great worth. As time went on, however, in accordance with the custom of other regions, the use of Bartering goods Money seldom or never used among the Northerners Why coinage permitted Leather money
