资料：From Coins to Credit Banking Throughout the Ages is a concise history of banks and the banking industry from ancient times to the present. James Gallagher, who has made a career of covering financial news for several newspapers, has done a careful job of investigating his subject. Although he presents the facts carefully, Mr. Gallagher has made what could have been a dry book into one that is interesting and enjoyable. By telling amusing anecdotes about historical figures, he makes them come alive. Even people who are not particularly attracted to the subject matter will find this book engrossing.

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