The Strange History of Money in America

Special thanks to Caleb Lewis for his original music contribution to this video

Instagram ➧ townsends_official

[WalcomS]

Your production values just astound me sometimes. Excellent video. Maybe my favorite so far, and it wasn't even a cooking one!

[MrRideabighorse]

It was cool to see the Nutmeg Tavern look like an operating tavern.

[Nannaof]

This education is so valuable it should be taught in schools, especially with this type of medium.
You're such a good teacher, Jon!

[TheGameGetterKuzuri]

Watching this channel reminds me of how the specials on PBS use to be. Talking about money is cool, complex and possibly boring, but you've hit that nice middle point where you get high end education and entertainment. Kinda like putting carrots and broccoli in cheesey rice for a kid that "doesn't like" vegetables. 😂 Keep up the hard work!

[graceface]

The value of coins: Depends on many factors
Seeing Hatless John: Priceless

[amadeusamwater]

Note: Prior to the Gold Rush, the most common coin west of the Mississippi was the Mexican silver dollar, the 8 reale piece. The USA did not mint silver dollars from 1805 to 1835 because of a silver shortage. The Mexican coins came up from Santa Fe in barrels, so were very common. Most of the people going West in the 1840s would have used the Mexican coin.

[draskang]

Awww! the use of the tavern in an actual scene is awesome!

[JeffDeWitt]

This was spectacularly good, I don't think anyone else could tell this story in such an understandable and approachable way. If there were Emmy awards for YouTubes this should win one. Well done, very well done.

[addy]

The music, the cinematography, the history... simply beautiful.

[bigboiadventures]

My children and I absolutely love this channel. No matter how bad things get or crappy day that I have I can just go back and pick a video and watch for an hour or two learn something new about our history and just enjoy a wholesome YouTube channel. John and crew are the kind of folks I'd love to be around.

[jadenephrite]

Regarding 16:51, in addition to clipping or filing bits of precious metal from silver coins, another insidious method for profiteering was known as sweating. Sweating utilized a corrosive acid to partially the dissolve the surface of silver coins and then to spend the degraded coins at face value. The adulterated coins would resemble slightly worn coins as though by normal contact abrasion from circulation. The silver dissolved in acid would be recovered by chemical precipitation and be melted down as bullion.

[erikhutchinson]

I didn’t know I was in for a college lecture on the fiat dollar but I’m so glad I did

[olyvoyl]

This certainly is one of your best and most thought provoking videos. Thank you for all your research and study on this and so many other subjects. I am a big fan of The Hoover Boys, a group of metal detectorist on the east coast. They turn up all kinds of coins of the variety you speak of. It is fun to see their excitement when rare coins are found. I recommend their vlogs to everyone interested in this subject. And I am sure they would find your video on the subject interesting too.

[jaji]

The Tavern scene made me miss even more my re-enacting family and experiences these past couple years. Also, BONUS JOSH SIGHTING! :-)

[shipped_my_pants_]

Prediction: This is going to be the most viewed video on their channel

[Kelli.Hicks.]

We take money so easily for granted, that it's easy to forget that it has such a complex history.

[wtk]

How about a companion piece about the role of barter on the frontier. That tradition lasted a long time even after money was widely available. I remember my grandma paying to have corn meal ground by giving the guy a portion. He still operated on a barter system, and this as in the 1970s!

[drenee]

Jon - the "consummate storyteller". Thank you Jon...very, very enjoyable video

[SutherlandYo]

The production value is beautiful as always. The close-up shots of the detailing in the coins is a joy to watch. Got a glass of home brewed mead & a 35 minute Townsends video. Good times!

[briankesterson]

John - A video that I will use in my American history class this year! Thank you so much!