What’s the highest market price ever paid for salt, as measured in gold?

History

When was salt worth as much as gold?

In the 6th century, sub-Saharan Moorish merchants traded one ounce of salt for one ounce of gold, and cakes of the former were used as money in many areas of Africa.
 

Did salt ever cost more than gold?

The historian explains that, going by trade documents from Venice in 1590, you could purchase a ton of salt for 33 gold ducats (ton the unit of measure, not the hyperbolic large quantity).
 

When was salt most expensive?

During the era when the Phoenicians ruled the Mediterranean sea and surrounding territories (cerca 1550 – 300 B.C.), salt was indeed a highly precious commodity. After this, the Romans became the dominant force in the Mediterranean, though the value of salt did not immediately decline by any means.
 

Has salt ever been expensive?

Prior to industrialization, it was extremely expensive and labor-intensive to harvest the mass quantities of salt necessary for food preservation and seasoning. This made salt an extremely valuable commodity.
 

Why was salt worth the price of gold?

Worth its Weight in Gold



Salt was a highly valued commodity not only because it was unobtainable in the sub-Saharan region but because it was constantly consumed and supply never quite met the total demand.
 

When did salt stop being expensive?

In the 20th century salt has become a cheap everyday product, because new deposits have been opened up and production has been thoroughly economized. The techniques though are basically still the same as in centuries before.

Why did people trade gold for salt?

This trade most commonly brought gold and salt from mines in West Africa to kingdoms in Europe and the Middle East. This was because of the economic importance and use of gold, but also the practical use for salt as it is an important nutrient for humans and animals and it helped to prevent their food from molding.
 

Why was salt so valuable in history?

Salt’s ability to preserve food was a founding contributor to the development of civilization. It helped eliminate dependence on seasonal availability of food, and made it possible to transport food over large distances.

How valuable was salt in ancient times?

The word “salary” was derived from the word “salt.” Salt was highly valued and its production was legally restricted in ancient times, so it was historically used as a method of trade and currency. The word “salad” also originated from “salt,” and began with the early Romans salting their leafy greens and vegetables.



How valuable was salt in ancient times?

Salt was of high value to the Jews, Greeks, Tamils, Chinese, Hittites and other peoples of antiquity. In the early years of the Roman Republic, with the growth of the city of Rome, roads were built to make transportation of salt to the capital city easier.

How valuable was salt in ancient Rome?

In Roman times, and throughout the Middle Ages, salt was a valuable commodity, also referred to as “white gold.” This high demand for salt was due to its important use in preserving food, especially meat and fish. Being so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money.
 

How much was salt worth in Roman times?

Not much is known for 50 AD but there are sources of prices based on Diocletian edict of Maximum prices which was issued in 301 AD. One modius of salt, which is 8 liters of dry matter or in case of salt 16 kg of salt, costed 100 denarii. That would make 1 ton of salt 6250 denarii.

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