Go back 300 years,and a rich man/woman would be wearing a diamond necklace,and all his/her gold bars were locked up in his own cellar,instantly accessible,visible,and touchable.
Ordinary people used to have a safe hidden somewhere in the house or around the house,and there they kept all their money.They could touch it see it,anytime they wanted.
Today we are happy to see a piece of paper with some numbers written on it (bank statement) and our money is always in someone else's control.