Economic Systems Without Coinage
Before coins and paper money, ancient societies developed complex systems to store value, manage debt, and track transactions. In Mesopotamia, temples and palaces acted as economic centers where grain, livestock, and labor were recorded and redistributed.

Clay Tablets and Accounting
Cuneiform tablets recorded loans, interest, wages, and contracts. These records functioned as early bank ledgers, documenting who owed what and when repayment was due. Interest rates were standardized, proving advanced financial planning.

Grain Storage as Wealth
Grain served as a unit of value and survival resource. Large granaries functioned like vaults, allowing surplus to be stored during good harvests and distributed during famine. Depositing grain with a temple was equivalent to safeguarding wealth.

Tokens and Symbolic Exchange
Before writing, clay tokens represented quantities of goods. These were sealed in clay envelopes, forming an early system of abstract accounting. Over time, these symbols evolved into written numerals.

Legacy of Proto-Banking
These systems laid the foundation for modern finance. Concepts such as credit, interest, contracts, and institutional trust all trace back to these ancient proto-banks.