Robinson Crusoe's Money; or, The Remarkable Financial Fortunes and Misfortunes of a Remote Island Community

"Robinson Crusoe's Money" by David Ames Wells is a late 19th-century exploration of money and currency, using a remote island community inspired by Robinson Crusoe as its setting. The story follows the development of their economic life, starting with a basic barter system and growing into the use of money. Initially, salvaged money is worthless to the island's first inhabitant because there’s nothing to buy. As more people arrive, like Friday and English sailors, the story deals with the problems of trading goods directly, leading to the need for a standard form of value. This change sets the stage for a broader look at how money affects society, wealth, and even morality.