The Strangest Things People Used as Money (Before Cash Existed)

Aluminum Discs

In early 20th-century New Guinea, aluminum discs stamped with holes and symbols were used as a form of trade money, sometimes by colonial governments. These shiny tokens quickly gained popularity due to their durability and lightweight nature.

The discs were strung together like beads and used in markets or ceremonies. Though introduced externally, they merged into traditional systems, proving that even outside inventions could become indigenous currencies.

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