Learn in a Minute: Has salt ever been used as a currency?

Yes! Salt has been used as a form of currency in various cultures throughout history.

Photo by Benreis / CC License.

Being so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. Their monthly allowance was called “salarium” (“sal” being the Latin word for salt). This Latin root can be recognized in the French word “salaire” — and it eventually made it into the English language as the word “salary.”
Author: Wim

Salt has been used as a mode of currency in many cultures throughout history.

1. In ancient Rome, salt was considered a valuable commodity and was often used as a form of currency.
2. In medieval Europe, salt was known as “white gold” and was often used to pay taxes and wages.
3. In West Africa, the Ashanti and Dahomey kingdoms used salt as a form of currency to trade with European merchants.
4. In ancient China, salt was considered a valuable commodity and was controlled by the government, which would often use it as a form of currency.
5. In ancient Ethiopia, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “amole”.
6. In ancient Egypt, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “natron”.
7. In ancient India, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “lavanam”.
8. In ancient Greece, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “halo”.
9. In ancient Mesopotamia, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “bitumen”.
10. In ancient Cyprus, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “halas”.
11. In ancient Syria, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “mahlab”.
12. In ancient Israel, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “melach”.
13. In ancient Persia, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “namak”.
14. In ancient Arabia, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “milh”.
15. In ancient Tibet, salt was used as a form of currency and was known as “gur”.

In the poorest countries of Africa, salt is still highly regarded for its exchange value. As a mode of money, the salt moles weighing about 5 kilograms still “circulate” in The Horn of Africa, one of the poorest parts of the continent.

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” — Jesus Christ (Mark 9:50)