SPPaper, back then, would have never worked simply because...

SP

Paper, back then, would have never worked simply because civilisation at that time was no where near as sophisticated as it is now.

On a simplified basis todays laws and regulations plus bureacrats and police make paper a tradable 'reliable' medium. Such sophistication was not possible back then - hence the use of precious metals.

Of course the thrust of your thoughts are clear - paper can be infinite where precious metals are not .... I get that. However making comparisons between the crusaders and BB is a bit of a long bow to draw (ha joke gettit).

I'm pretty certain the Crusaders would not have been thinking that way. Their focus was on conquest!

GC