This question <505|569> overall <535|537> Ranger: <531|542>.

Question 186: What kinds of commodities were the first to assume money form?

[536] Ranger: Different communities used different kinds of commodities to assume the role as the “universal commodity.” Marx mentions that slaves have been used to assume money form. Some ancient American Indian cultures used beads and animal teeth as their universal commodity. Other groups have used sheep, cows, or other livestock as their universal commodity. More recently gold has assumed money form. However, within the last 60 years several nations, such as the United States, have officially retired gold money form.

Hans: Marx tried to give not only an enumeration but he also supplies some rationale why these things served as money. Perhaps it is not contained in the Question explicitly enough, but I wanted you to explain me this rationale, i.e., give me not just a list but a structured list, which groups the items and indicates what the rationale for each of the groups is.

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