Abstract
This chapter examines the use of salt money as currency standard in Ethiopia. The use of salt as currency in Ethiopia has a very long history. Salt was first introduced into Ethiopia by the Amole tribe and a bar of salt serving as currency is known as amole to this day. It is used mainly in the Amharic provinces, but as small change it is popular throughout the empire. In particularly backward regions it constitutes the only currency. Only the black bars are accepted as a medium of exchange. White salt of much finer quality is only taken at its commodity value which is much lower. Moreover, in many districts only faultless bars are accepted as money. To some extent at any rate salt serves as a store of value. Although primarily used as small change, even valuable properties such as slaves were purchased with it. Cartridges having a certain bore of rifle were, and possibly still are, extensively used as a kind of currency in backward districts of Ethiopia. Taxes and fines were fixed at one time in oxen and in cows. Dates are also said to have been used as small change.
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