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Ancient history frequently refers to the use of salt as money.  For example, the Roman historian Pliny interprets the use of salt as a means of payment: "in Rome ... the soldier's pay was originally salt and the word salary derives from it..."  We have our own saying that refers to this: "Not worth your salt", meaning "not worth your wages" .

Marco Polo writes about salt as a form of money in the KAIN-du province of China.  Gold is the "greater money", and salt, which was hardened into cakes and impressed with the stamp of the Grand Khan, is described as the "lesser money".

When coins were introduced, their weight was confirmed by setting a stamp or "hallmark" on every coin, to relieve people of the need to weigh them.  It is interesting that the word "hallmark" means "salt mark", from the Greek word for salt: "hal".

In Ethiopia today, brick-like moles of salt weighing approximately 5 kilograms are still circulating as a means of payment.