What makes money valuable than other pieces of paper? To understand this further money is defined as a social unit of account. It is a measuring unit. Money becomes valuable when a country agrees to assign value to a particular note and when other countries recognize this value. This is when we can use it as a currency.  The system of money operates on a mutual set of agreements. The trusts in the system and institution is what generates its values.

It is also valuable because money is based on gold and silver standards. In the past money was in the form of coins composed of precious metals such as gold and silver. The value of such coins were based on the metals it contains. The coins can always be melted and use these coins for other things such as jewelry. The value of money is a convenient way of holding a little bit of gold and silver. The gold and silver standard allows you to take money to the bank and exchange it with gold and silver. This was specifically true decades ago not until the system changed. The dollar now  is not tied to any commodity.