2016-08-06 Sat

Well generally you would like your money to fit into your pockets but these stones that Yapese people used weighed 4 metric tons!

Rai, or stone money are large doughnut-shaped carved disks of limestone. The largest can be 4 m (12 ft) in diameter, 0.5 meters (1.5 ft) thick and weigh 4 metric tons. The smallest can be as little as 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.

Sounds weird and unusual no!

As there are no stone quarries in Yap, the stones were brought in from Palau. Traditionally they were brought by sea on rafts. The value of the stone depended not only on its size and craftsmanship but also on its history. The value of the stone increased if many people or none died during its transport or if a famous person brought it in!

The physically movement of these stones was not required and the most of the transactions were carried out by orally transferring the ownership of the stone.

Today these Rai stones have been replaced by United States dollar. The stone disks are still used for more traditional or ceremonial exchange. The stone disks may change ownership during marriages, transfers of land title, or as compensation for damages suffered by an aggrieved party.

They are a national symbol today and are depicted on local license plates.