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Who introduced Europe to the concept of paper money?

Marco Polo (1254 –1324) traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. He brought back to Europe some interesting ideas. Long before Europe began printing its own bills, the Mongol empire was circulating paper money. Marco Polo described the strange currency in his book, <i>The Travels of Marco Polo</i>, and he also described systems in place to prevent counterfeiting the paper currency. In 1996 the Vatican Post Office commemorated his travels.<br><br> See also:<br>  • 1996 UFN Bulletin <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/1996-2-03-1.jpg'>700th Anniversary of Marco Polo's Return from China</a><br>  • <a href='https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/84526/15-surprising-facts-about-marco-polo'>15 Surprising Facts About Marco Polo</a> <i>www.mentalfloss.com</i> <br><br> <center> <img src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1004.jpg' height='175px'> <img src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1005.jpg' height='175px'><br> <img src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1006.jpg' height='175px'> <img src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1007.jpg' height='175px'> <br>700th Anniversary Of Marco Polo's Return From China - Scott #1004-1007 (1996)<br><br> <img src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1008.jpg' height='350px'> </center><br><br>