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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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B
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Bimetallism
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1992-09-03
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Monetary system in which two metals,
traditionally gold and silver, both
circulate at a ratio fixed by the state, are
coined by the mint on equal terms, and are
legal tender to any amount. The system was in
use in the 19th century. Advocates of
bimetallism have argued that the
`compensatory action of the double standard'
makes for a currency more stable than one
based only on gold, since the changes in the
value of the two metals taken together may be
expected to be less than the changes in one
of them. One of the many arguments against
the system is that the ratio of the prices of
the metals is frozen regardless of the supply
and demand.