From Cowries To Credit Cards

I think the items used must have carried a rarity value. I believe that Yap stones were transported from other islands.
Cowrie shells? Perhaps just of a particular color or size.
Tree bark (I'd never heard of that) but I don't think I would have been able to strip just any old tree otherwise anyone could make themselves an instant millionaire!
The users of such items were generally small communities so that would imply a trust in your fellow man. Unfortunately that doesn't happen nowadays, just look at the number of counterfeits!

Thanks for the responses guys. In searching a bit I found reference to the requirements you have listed, and concepts of a monetary system. It's interesting to see some of the different items used as money and it it sometimes difficult to assimilate the value into 21st century thinking.

It seems that portability and ease of use continue to increase in importance. It reminded me of something in a movie I had just watched. In "The Day The Earth Stood Still" - the original - the "Spaceman" was spending the day with young Bobby and Bobby wanted to go to the movies. He asked Bobby if you needed money. Bobby said he had two dollars that his mom had given him but the Spaceman wanted to take Bobby to the movies. He then reached in his pocket and pulled out a small handful of diamonds and asked if Bobby thought they would accept them. Bobby said they must be worth a million dollars. He told Bobby that in some places people use them as money - they're easy to carry and they don't wear out.

It fit so perfectly with this concept. Reading a bit about the fundamentals of money and monetary systems was quite interesting and something I had never given much thought to. But given our financial issues in this country of late it has been a bit more in the forefront.

Thank you for your responses and I hope there will be more on this intriguing subject.

Steve