Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money
(Exhibition Home)
African Money
Introduction
Aksumite Coinage - Salt - Cowrie Shells - Iron and Copper - Ring Money
Salt

Salt is an essential part of the human diet-so much so that many cultures have used it as a form of payment. In Africa, merchants and consumers were adept at dividing their portions of salt in order to make exact payments. If chunks eventually became very small they could be used to flavor food.
Salt bound in bamboo, Sierra Leone (early 20th century). The binding was of a fixed size and allowed the salt to circulate in standard units.
Rock-cut salt, Ethiopia (early 20th century). In this part of Africa, the value of salt was calculated in Maria Theresa thalers at rates that varied by supply (see Case 8 for a coin of that type).