Cookie Policy Bankrate uses cookies to ensure that you get the best experience on our website. They are sometimes called the «bid» and «ask» price for the currency pair, respectively. Prepaid cards for foreign use are becoming more widespread. Before this, it is assumed that bartering, which is the exchange of goods and services without the use of money, was likely used. Related Articles. Paper currency, on the other hand, was invented in Asia, and was brought back to Europe by Marco Polo after his travels to Asia. Continue Reading.