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

Beaver Pelts

During the North American fur trade, beaver pelts—also called “Made Beaver”—were the standard unit of exchange. Fur traders, especially those working for the Hudson’s Bay Company, used beaver skins to price everything from kettles to knives.

The pelts were durable, warm, and stylish in Europe. Their demand was so high that they functioned like an international currency. A fat stack of fur could build an empire—or wipe out an ecosystem.

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