The Maya and Aztec had no coins to use as money. Instead, they often used cacao beans as a type of currency.
Cacao beans were difficult to grow, but easy to transport, and all of roughly the same size. This meant that a fixed price could be set for a certain number of beans.
They used beans instead of coins in all local markets. They even used them to trade with neighbouring countries for jewellery, rubber, cotton, feathers of tropical birds and jaguar skins.
