why he can't just print more money, but whateva.

cuz it didn't work so well in the ussr, venezuela, or zimbabwe. Value is determined by public scarcity and a populous willing to accept it. It's why diamond companies went into a panic after people started making fakes you could barely tell apart. Whether it's cloth, paper, or a shiny rock, if everybody's got it there's no easy way to barter with it.

If you want a really enjoyable story about the complexities of economics, look no further than Tulip mania.