The amazing thing about currency being actual valuable things (like precious metals or gems) is that it cannot be devalued by "printing" more of it from non-val

The amazing thing about currency being actual valuable things (like precious metals or gems) is that it cannot be devalued by "printing" more of it from non-valuable things. Nations try to avoid this because they can spend freely on a promissory note currency system. It is a recipe for disaster in the long term.