Knife Money

ancient China · weird money · bronze

Money shaped like knives. Instead of coins or paper, people in ancient China used large bronze knives as currency. These knife-shaped pieces of metal could be traded to buy food, tools, and other goods, making them real money that actually worked.

Used for 400 years. Knife money circulated during the Zhou dynasty between 600 and 200 BCE. That's a really long time for one type of money to stay in use.

Cast from bronze. These knives were made by casting, which means melted bronze was poured into molds shaped like knives and left to cool and harden. Each knife was carefully crafted to be the same size so people knew they had the same value.

Before regular coins. Knife money came before the round metal coins we think of today. As time went on, people realized round coins were easier to carry and trade, so knife money eventually disappeared.