By the middle of the nineteenth century, the world was functioning on a bi-metal system based on gold and silver. But, following the British example, most major countries had shifted to a gold standard by the 1870’s.
19世纪中叶，世界在金银双本位体系的基础上运转。但是，在英国的带领下，大部分主要国家在19世纪70年代进入了金本位时代。