Credit is thought to have preceded the existence of coinage by several thousands of years. The first recorded instance of credit is a collection of old Sumerian documents from 3000 BC that show systematic use of credit to loan both grain and metals. The rise of interest as a concept is unknown, though its use in Sumeria argue that it was well established as a concept by 3000BC if not earlier, with historians believing that the concept in its modern sense may have arisen from the lease of animal or seeds for productive purposes. The argument that acquired seeds and animals could reproduce themselves was used to justify interest, but ancient Jewish religious prohibitions against usury (נשך NeSheKh) represented a "different view".Johnson, Paul: A History of the Jews (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1987) , pp. 172–73.
credit is thought to have preceded the existence of coinage by several thousands of years the first recorded instance of credit is a collection of old sumerian documents from 3000 bc that show systematic use of credit to loan both grain and metals the rise of interest as a concept is unknown though its use in sumeria argue that it was well established as a concept by 3000bc if not earlier with historians believing that the concept in its modern sense may have arisen from the lease of animal or seeds for productive purposes the argument that acquired seeds and animals could reproduce themselves was used to justify interest but ancient jewish religious prohibitions against usury (נשך neshekh) represented a "different view"johnson paul a history of the jews (new york harpercollins publishers 1987)  pp 172–73