Their exchange value depended not on their silver content, but on the fact that they could be exchanged at every instant, without delay and without cost, at their full face value against gold.
So people are less likely to link their self-esteem to events and more likely to take things at face value.
Some took the movie at face value: the zany antics of Indian college kids.
Repaid $100 of bonds at face value at maturity.