Section 9: Commerce in the colonies Previous Section | Main Menu | Next Section
Many kinds of coins and commodities were used in the American colonies. This confusing variety often complicated trade.
Small farms were self-sufficient Instead of coins, colonists often used commodities when trading
farms as self-sufficient in the colonies colonial use of commodities in lieu of coins
 
When coins were used, many came from New World mints
coin from Mexico City colonial New World mint
Mexico City
coin from Mexico City colonial New World mint
Mexico City
coin from Mexico City colonial New World mint
Mexico City
coin from Bogota colonial New World mint
Bogotá
coin from Bogota colonial New World mint
Bogotá
coin from Bogota colonial New World mint
Bogotá
coin from Lima colonial New World mint
Lima
coin from Lima colonial New World mint
Lima
coin from Lima colonial New World mint
Lima
coin from Potosi colonial New World mint
Potosi
coin from Potosi colonial New World mint
Potosi
coin from Potosi colonial New World mint
Santiago
 
Wampum was legal tender in several colonies Nails were legal tender in the New England colonies
wampum

nails were legal tender in New England colonies          nails were legal tender in New England colonies

nails were legal tender in New England colonies          nails were legal tender in New England colonies

nails were legal tender in New England colonies          nails were legal tender in New England colonies

 
Musket bullets were legal tender in colonial Massachusetts
musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts
musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket bullets legal tender in colonial Massachusetts musket ball as money
 
Tobacco was legal tender in colonial Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the Carolinas Beaver pelts were legal tender in colonial Massachusetts
tobacco as legal tender

tobacco as legal tender
beaver pelts as legal tender