You're inserting bartering into something talking about currency. While your point has merit it's inapplicable. Yes there is a "problem" with people not knowing a few things about currency, what the sum of printed values on all currency is and how much value each unit of currency has as well as how much value the whole has. The discussion or arguments on this topic always devolve down to the low IQ adage "fiat bad!!!" completeling missing the idea that even the value of gold is fiat. As you pointed out it's all perception. All value is man-made, all value is fake when it comes to the idea of trade.
For example, when my father dies I get his Firefigher's badge. That will hold far far far more value to me than to you. It's a brass badge. It's value to you is what you could get for it melted down. It's value to me eclipses that significantly. If it were gold it would be worth more to me than it's weight in gold as well.
e; My $1 bill right now can't buy very much. Not even a pack of gum anymore. 200 years ago a $1 bill could by quite a lot. Could probably feed a family of 5 of good food. That's "value" despite $1 being printed on both, that's the purchasing power of the $1, more then than it is now.
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