SC - FW: Spices Used as a Form of Currency?

[Christine A Seelye-King]

I think this is a question for Fransico, but I also thought it would be
of general interest to the list.  
Christianna

- --------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Loverde, Ginger" <gloverde at lanier.com>
To: "Christine A Seelye-King (E-mail)" <mermayde at juno.com>
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 10:48:12 -0400
Subject: FW: al-jisr: FW: Spices Used as a Form of Currency?

Thought you might be able to answer this question....
Ginger

- -----Original Message-----
From: Beary, Karen [mailto:kbeary at usatoday.com]
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2000 7:46 AM
To: 'Al-Jisr'
Subject: Spices Traded as a Form of Currency?
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2000 11:37PM

I've run out of ideas and am hoping someone from the list will be able to
help me out.  Is there someone (anyone?) making up the list who may have
run
across documentation sources for spices used as currency by Arab
merchants?

In my research into spices and trade, I've seen evidence (several places)
that Europeans used spices -- peppercorns, for example -- as a form of
currency.  But nowhere have I found references to Muslim merchants using
spices as "legal tender."

The value placed on spices was often greater than that given to gold or
jewels and I know that ancient cities were founded on the wealth of
Muslim
spice merchants.  Does anyone out there know how to find out if Arab
merchants used spices as a form of currency as well as a tradable
commodity?

Any assistance that surfaces would be greatly appreciated.

Izdihara al Hakima bint durr
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