9 Crazy Things Used As Currency Around The World

From shells and bones to bitcoin and electronic money, the currency has evolved significantly since its inception in ancient times. And although today's coins, banknotes, and credit cards are widely used and accepted almost everywhere, there are still places on Earth where strange things are used as a means of payment.

And although the whole world is trying to understand the cryptocurrency phenomenon (still), exchangesumo.com - perhaps the best site for the most profitable currency exchanges, helped us to collect a selection of the most unusual things that were or are still being used as money. We are sure that this list will surprise you.

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1. Tea bricks.

For a long time, from the 9th to the 20th century, pressed tea was widely used as a form of currency in countries such as Turkmenistan, China, Mongolia, and some regions of Russia. Bricks were made in different shapes and sizes. The quality of the tea also varied from one brick to the next and was a major determinant of cost.

2. Urine.

It may sound strange, but even today, urine is used as currency in prisons. Sometimes prisoners undergo drug tests that require them to urinate, and they can get in trouble if they are caught using drugs. This is why urine is a real currency in exchange for other services.

3. Katangese cross.

Looking at these crosses, you might think that they were made by our ancient ancestors. In fact, these copper pieces were used as currency in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Katanga crosses were made in various sizes, averaging about 20 cm in diameter and weighing about 1 kg.

4. Stones of Rai.

Rai stones are perhaps the most massive form of currency in history. They have been used as currency on the island of Yap since around 500 AD. Each Rai stone represented its own story, which determined its value. The more difficult it was to create and transport a stone, the higher was its value.

5. Dolphin teeth.

It's hard to believe, but there are places in the Solomon Islands where dolphin teeth are used as currency in our modern world. According to a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the total number of recorded dolphins killed for their teeth from 1976 to 2013 was over 15,400.

6. Shells.

This is perhaps the most beautiful form of currency mentioned in our list. Shells were once widely used in almost every continent, including America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Archaeologists have found evidence that shells have been used as a means of payment since at least 1200 BC. Ironically, shells are still used today in some remote parts of the world.

7. Arrowheads.

This truly exciting type of ancient currency originates from the northern Black Sea and is known as the first money equivalent in the area. The tips were prized for their bronze composition as well as their ability to be used for weapons. This money was cast in many forms and eventually took on the more complex shape of dolphins and fish.

8. Parmigiano Reggiano.

Italians love cheese. They love it so much that one of the Italian banks, Credito Emiliano, accepts Parmesan cheese as a form of payment. Since 1953, the regional bank has been accepting giant wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

9. Bottle caps.

Beer bottle caps with prizes on the inside are replacing the currency in parts of Cameroon, which is fighting a fierce publicity battle between rival breweries.