› added 1 year ago

46

TIL that most national currencies have no backing in precious metals or commodities and have value only by fiat.

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1axgX TIL British aristocrats often went broke after royal visits. Queen Elizabeth I spent her holydays at her titled noblemen's country estates. The problem was that Tudor monarchs didn’t just travel alone and hosts had to find housing, food and entertainment for over 300 people, often at short notice.
VM49k TIL Typhoid Mary spent 26 years in forced isolation after infecting over 50 people with typhoid fever.
XED7D TIL that after cutting off his ear, Vincent van Gogh painted a portrait of the doctor who treated him, then gave it to the doctor. The doctor hated it and used it to repair a chicken coop before giving it away. It's now worth $50 million.
leNV TIL Paul Revere was a dentist. A silversmith by trade, he learned the trade to make ends meet when he was poor. He used to be able to identify fallen soldiers by their dental work he’d crafted. He’s recognized as the first forensic dentist.
JY0V TIL in Germany they teach kids how to hide a boner…on TV!