[MH]

Any currency other than direct barter works on a basis of trust and shared value. That includes gold, silver, stones, old batteries, $/€. After all currency is nothing but delayed barter. It's all worthless unless there's common agreement that it demarcates value.
Money is only a transfer mechanism. It's not like the world would be a better place if everything was constantly backed by a random arbitrary metal as opposed to measured, verifiable economic action.

People are rich when they have paper money. Because it's easily converted into goods and services. They're not living in a dreamworld.
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