In modern times we take coins and paper money for granted, but ancient societies assigned monetary value to a surprising array of objects. These strange forms of ancient currency reveal the creativity and resourcefulness of cultures long before the age of minted coins.
Why These Strange Forms Matter
Understanding these odd monetary items helps us appreciate how value is a social construct, shaped by geography, necessity, and imagination.
10 Edible Currency
Salt wasn’t just a seasoning; it was a bona‑fide medium of exchange. The Latin word “salarium,” the root of our modern word “salary,” literally meant “money for salt.” In East Africa during the Middle Ages, salt served as the primary currency, sliding from market stalls to royal treasuries.
Cheese also made the cut—Parmigiano‑Reggiano was once accepted as bank collateral in Italy. Across the Atlantic, cocoa beans bought goods in Central America, while in Central Asia traders carried tea bricks. Mongolians even ate the bricks when the brew ran out, proving that a good currency can double as a snack.
9 Katanga Crosses
The X‑shaped copper ingots known as Katanga Crosses originated in the mineral‑rich Katanga region of today’s Democratic Republic of Congo. Weighing between one and two‑and‑a‑half pounds, they were the backbone of regional trade and were often buried with their owners. Because they were cast from copper, a cross could be melted down to fashion tools if the need arose. In practical terms, one cross could fetch roughly 22 pounds of flour.
8 Squirrel Pelts
During the Middle Ages, Russian merchants discovered a niche market for squirrel pelts, using the tiny furs, claws, and snouts as pocket change. The practice may have unintentionally curbed the spread of the Black Plague, as fewer rodents meant fewer disease carriers. Today, Finland still recognizes squirrel pelts as legal tender, valuing each at three cents.
7 Potato Mashers
In what is now Cameroon, Bafia potato mashers doubled as a form of money. These metal tools were prized enough to settle the most important trades among the Bafians. Their value also sheds light on gender norms of the era—wives could be purchased for a set price, famously thirty potato mashers.
6 Lobi Snakes
The Lobi people of ancient Ghana forged iron snakes that hung from belts or rested on personal altars—think of them as medieval anti‑vampire charms. Curved to suggest a slithering motion, these serpents were not merely talismans; they circulated as currency in everyday barter.
5 Kissi Pennies
Kissi pennies were long, iron strips fashioned into a distinctive “T” shape. One end resembled an “ear” (a spade‑like hoe), the other a “foot.” Typically over a foot long, a broken penny required a witch‑doctor’s ceremony before it could be reused. Because each piece was low‑valued, they were bundled—about twenty made a bundle. A bag of oranges might cost one or two pennies, while a cow could demand over a hundred bundles, and a kissi bride could fetch roughly two hundred.
4 Rings And Jewelry
Ancient Egypt’s economy was tightly regulated, but before the late period, the nation didn’t rely on minted coins. Instead, wealth exchanged hands via rings and assorted jewelry. Scholars even link the Biblical reference in Deuteronomy 14:25 to this Egyptian practice of ring‑based barter.
3 Potlatch
A potlatch was an extravagant gift‑giving ceremony that could involve anything from whale teeth in the Fijian islands to feathers among Native American tribes. These gatherings marked births, marriages, and other milestones, often spiraling into a competitive display of wealth. The most legendary potlatch saw the Queen of Sheba present King Solomon with 120 talents of gold and a record‑breaking haul of spices. By the late 19th century, North American authorities outlawed the practice.
2 Knives
In ancient China, large bronze knives functioned as early coinage. Roughly 2,500 years ago, a Chinese prince permitted his soldiers to use their knives as payment when cash was scarce. The practice caught on, especially during the Zhou Dynasty (600‑200 BC). Many of these knives featured a ring at one end, allowing warriors to sling them from belts or straps.
1 Rai Stones
The titanic Rai Stones of Yap are the heaviest monetary units ever recorded. Carved from single limestone blocks, each stone bears a central hole and can span up to 12 feet in diameter, weighing more than eight tons. Their value hinged on the story of their creation—risky canoe voyages, treacherous carving, and even the death of a transporter could raise a stone’s worth. Stones never moved; ownership transferred through elaborate ceremonies, and a lost stone remained part of the economy, simply recognized as “out in the ocean.”