This is a highly specialized area of numismatics and hence is not widely known, but does anyone collect these types of "coins"? My interests in primitive currencies stems from the time I read Guinness Book of World Records when I was a kid. The rai from the Caroline Islands blew me away and I wanted one in my house! How I was going to get it here, well, that was a different question . Reality hit a few years later
Quote: neilithicI like the chinese knife and spade coins but I don't know enough about them to spot a fake
I know what you mean, but I usually deal with very reliable dealers to help me wade through the fakes. Costs a bit more, but at least I know I am getting quality. One of the top experts in Chinese Cash in the United States once told me to forget collecting Chinese Cash as he was, and still is, frustrated with all the fakes that are out there. He currently refuses to purchase any Chinese coins for more than $50 unless he is ABSOLUTELY SURE it is legitimate. Guess where I get some of my coins from ...
Imperial China, Wang Mang: Huo Bu Spade Money (7-23AD), (Hartill-9.30)
The centre line can stop at the hole, or extend to the top of the coin
Obv: 货布 Huo Bu (Money Spade). From AD 14.
Rev: Blank
Currencies was always meant to exchange "value" for "value" with a predefined exchange rate. The "value" of an item is defined in various ways in several different cultures. That includes the physical time it takes for an object to be constructed (artistic items, weapons, etc) or the value of an item based on how precious it is to a society. As we evolved as a society, different items replaced what was valuable to a point where current currencies are now just a representation of value. A classic example is the US penny that costs about 3 cents to make but represents only one cent...
Quote: neilithicThe aztecs used chocolate as currency so yes...I have a large collection of primitive currency in my pantry at home ;)
You have "counterfeit" Aztec currency then; they used the Cacao beans, not Chocolate (cacao + sugar + milk) that would basically be lower fineness Cacao lol.
Cacao was the everyday coin, Jade beads where like the big denomination coins. I have a neclace of those, they where irregular, mostly unpolished, but jade is always pretty.
And did you know that after the Spaniards conquered Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital) their hachet coins where changed so that they would have a weight-value relation that of the Reales? They missed their currency, so they started using legal "hatchet tokens", with the big ones ( 8 Reales) with a weight 16 times bigger than the smaller ones (1/2 Real). Until Mexico City Mint opened in 1535; I like to think that Mo opened so soon because the King saw their troops becoming "savages" using native money so happily.
Numista referee for the "Viceroyalty of the New Spain" (most of it).
History through coins.
Eli V
Salt was used for trading too... There was a famous salt plane in Araya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araya Venezuela that was very famous during the spanish era...
When the first white settlers came to New Zealand they traded with anything metal. The Maori hadn't seen metal before and it was harder than anything they had been using so they used to happily accept nails, axes, spades, etc as payment for goods.
Quote: neilithicWhen the first white settlers came to New Zealand they traded with anything metal. The Maori hadn't seen metal before and it was harder than anything they had been using so they used to happily accept nails, axes, spades, etc as payment for goods.
Regarding this last statement of @neilithic and specific hobby of @Quant.Geek I am ready to give away all my metal things from garage (nails, screws, old tools and even disks from tires) to get Your gold, silver coins and other nice things in exchange. ;)
Every single coin on the world should meet its collector!
Hi, I am wondering if anybody has any information on the poison money seeds of Burma, such as the plant they come from, I have searched online and cant find anything. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Quote: "neilithic"I like the chinese knife and spade coins but I don't know enough about them to spot a fake
I know what you mean, but I usually deal with very reliable dealers to help me wade through the fakes. Costs a bit more, but at least I know I am getting quality. One of the top experts in Chinese Cash in the United States once told me to forget collecting Chinese Cash as he was, and still is, frustrated with all the fakes that are out there. He currently refuses to purchase any Chinese coins for more than $50 unless he is ABSOLUTELY SURE it is legitimate. Guess where I get some of my coins from ...
Imperial China, Wang Mang: Huo Bu Spade Money (7-23AD), (Hartill-9.30)
The centre line can stop at the hole, or extend to the top of the coin
Obv: 货布 Huo Bu (Money Spade). From AD 14.
Rev: Blank
Totally agree. I Don really know what is real or what is fake anymore. Just too many dam fakes out there. The easiest to spot last time is by the characters. Later part, they made all the same. Killing their own heirtage.
Be kind to people. Sharing is Caring. Collect what you like and not by the Crowd.
To seek for perfection, it is too painful and there is a very high price to pay. To seek for something comfortable is more easy. To seek for nothing is even more easy.
That is not 100% true. Yap money comes in all different sizes, but most people think that its these behemoths that are found on the island. For instance, this particular specimen was from the Numismatic Association of Southern California that was sold in auction. The weight is about 40 lbs and about 15 inches in diameter:
Quote: "wampumGuy19!"Hi, I am wondering if anybody has any information on the poison money seeds of Burma, such as the plant they come from, I have searched online and cant find anything. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
QuoteChasinva69?? Byl jsem v Yapu. Věř mi, není žádný způsob, jak „sbírání“ kamenné peníze Yap.
Cvičení
Ahoj.
I have them in the garden at home, I put a wallet on it, I don't take it to the store to pay. I think they're fake money, my ancestors paid pieces of cloth in proportion in the 10th century 1 denar=10 pcs fine linen canvas.
Ivan
Addition:
Yes, the stones are designed to grind wheat!
. Reality hit a few years later 
. In all seriousness, the Aztecs also used a form of Axe money:
...
