Tag Archives: seashell

Some days ago Go Compare website published an interesting article about the weirdest currencies from all over the world.

In this funny list, they quote some incredible items used as a method of payment in several countries, including China, Siberia and more.

Read below the list of the 5 ridiculous things used as a method of payment.

These particular kinds of stone are huge circular stone disks you can find in the Yap island, Micronesia.

Their value is based not only on its size, but also on its history. If many people died when the stone was moved or a famous person brought it in, the Rai stone value increases thanks to the anecdots related to it.

The greatest part of these stones are too large to move, so transactions are based on oral agreements.

Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ghana, people began to buy and sell mobile phone minutes for small transactions. This method of payment works this way: you need to trade with prepaid cards or use mobile apps that let users send minutes to other people.

This method started to be used in 2011 and one minute values 1 unit of currency.

In coutries such as Langa Langa Lagoon and Solomon Islands, seashells are used as a method of payment.

These seashells – that are very rare because of their value – are used to create jewels that can be sold to tourists.

Each string values approximately $90.

Tea is very popular in countries such as China and Tibet, where tea bricks are used as a method of payment as well.

Created from tea leaves, tea bricks could be used to buy livestock and pay taxes too. In Siberia and Tibet tea bricks could be eaten or used to cure some disorders such as coughs and colds.

In 2005 a beer company in Cameroon started to hide prizes under bottle caps. Competitors companies started to do the same and the result was that almost every cap had a prize on it.

Prizes include free beers, trips and cars, and winning cap became a method of payments to buy goods and service thanks to them.

Among the alternative payment methods there is Bitcoin, and to store this kind of coins you need a wallet.

To read more about how it works and to open a wallet for free here.