Abstract: Sorting out the basic issues in the history of monetary system is helpful to understand the characteristics and functions of their monetary institution from the social structure and thinking mode of different times,and provide historical reference for the development of the current monetary system.The study of monetary system can solve the problem of which comes first in the origin and definition of currency.The “Weber-Polanyi-Finley” method tradition of economic history analysis is helpful to understand the essence of the development of monetary institution.Polanyi’s division of three ways of social integration provides a framework for understanding the social environment of futures currency system at all times.This determines that money has different social attributes and functions in different times,which also means that the nature of money has dual attributes,different monetary functions have independent origins,and the multi-origins of money are possible.The origin of money was closely related to the invention of writing,which affected the development of early civilization.Different from the general purpose currency,the special purpose currency that only bears some monetary functions is the currency commonly referred to in different historical periods.This also determines that different types of currency correspond to different social levels,and money itself has formed a hierarchy.There are complex credit relationships among the three social integration methods,which affect and even determine the development of the monetary institution.How to solve the impact of excessive debt on social stability is the main problem that the monetary institution in different times must deal with,which is also a main line of the study of the history of monetary institution.