Currency relative values of the different currencies. Currencies in this sense are defined by governments, and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance. Other definitions of the term "currency" are discussed in their respective synonymous articles banknote, coin, and money. The latter definition, pertaining to the currency systems of nations, is the topic of this article. Currencies can be classified into two monetary systems: fiat money and commodity money, depending on what guarantees the value (the economy at large vs. the government's physical metal reserves). Some currencies are legal tender in certain political jurisdictions. Others are simply traded for their economic
Yuan (currency) market, the Chinese yuan (CNY) refers to the renminbi (RMB), which is the official currency used in mainland China. Having been in use for at least 2000 years, the yuan was the first decimal currency system. It is also the first to use metal coins and bank notes, which significantly shaped the global financial system. In Standard (Mandarin) Chinese, "yuán" literally means a "round object" or "round coin". During the Qing Dynasty, the yuan was a round coin made of silver. In informal contexts, the word is written with the simplified Chinese character , that literally means "beginning". In formal