Commodity market in Sumer between 4500 BC and 4000 BC. Sumerians first used clay tokens sealed in a clay vessel, then clay writing tablets to represent the amount—for example, the number of goats, to be delivered. These promises of time and date of delivery resemble futures contract. Early civilizations variously used pigs, rare seashells, or other items as commodity money. Since that time traders have sought ways to simplify and standardize trade contracts. Gold and silver markets evolved in classical civilizations. At first the precious metals were valued for their beauty and intrinsic worth and were associated with royalty. In time, they
Ordo Aurum Solis "The Divine Arcana of the Aurum Solis" and "Rediscover the Magick of the Gods and Goddesses". Another book contains practices coming from the Aurum Solis. This is "The Magical Use of Prayer Beads". All these books have been published by Llewellyn Publications. Vivian Godfrey (Melita Denning) was diagnosed with cancer early in 1997 and died on March 23 of that same year. On June 14, 2003, Leon Barcynski (Osborne Phillips) retired as Grand Master and was succeeded by Jean-Louis de Biasi, the current Grand Master, who subsequently made a declaration that bore witness to the Hermetic nature of the work