From Pelts to Bitcoin: A History of Money

Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 11am Doors Open | 11:30am Buffet Served | 12:00pm Program | 1:00pm Session Ends
Location: Illini Country Club, 1601 Illini Rd, Springfield, IL 62704
Cost: $50 (Lunch, Parking, and Gift to UIS included)

For the past 5,000 years, money has continuously evolved alongside human civilization. From early bartering systems—such as those used by Native Americans and French colonial traders—to Abraham Lincoln’s authorization of “Greenbacks” and the rise of paper currency, each era has reshaped how value is created and exchanged.

Today, as the American penny is phased out and new coinage is proposed, digital forms of payment like credit and debit cards dominate everyday transactions. At the same time, virtual cryptocurrencies have gained international recognition and continue to see growing acceptance across markets.

Join Dr. Matthew Brown of the UIS College of Business and Management for an engaging exploration of the history of money and how its evolution continues to shape our world.