This is true. For more on the topic, look up the seigniorage of the antiquity, and not least the ... self issued ... gold certificates of Stockholms Banco of 16

This is true. For more on the topic, look up the seigniorage of the antiquity, and not least the ... self issued ... gold certificates of Stockholms Banco of 1661, boasting the first printing of bank notes used in Europe. It didn't go so well...