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	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   When coins were used, many came from New World mints Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City Bogotá Bogotá Bogotá Lima Lima Lima Potosi Potosi Santiago   Wampum was legal tender in several colonies Nails were legal tender in the New England colonies                                    Musket bullets were legal tender in colonial Massachusetts   Tobacco was legal tender in colonial Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the Carolinas Beaver pelts were legal tender in colonial Massachusetts