Fiat Money
Currency that a government has declared to be legal tender, despite the fact that it has no intrinsic value and is not backed by reserves. Historically, most currencies were based on physical commodities such as gold or silver, but fiat money is based solely on faith. Investopedia Says:
Most of the world's paper money is fiat money. Because fiat money is not linked to physical reserves, it risks becoming worthless due to hyperinflation. If people lose faith in a nation's paper currency, the money will no longer hold any value. Related Terms:
A Ton Of Money
Continentals
Currency
Gold Standard
Hard Money
Lawful Money
Monetary Reserve
Money
Money Market
Seigniorage |