The Mayans have various forms of currency in their trading, among them Salt and Obsidian which dominated the market. Luxury items like Jade, Quetzal Feathers, Cacao, Seashells, Polychrome Pottery, Embroidered Cloth, Chert, Amber, and Turquoise were also used as currency.

Most of this trade involved long distances, required hard labor and was costly, thus fine goods suited this exchange.

According to "www.mexconnect.com" article "The Ancient Maya - A Commercial Empire" by David Conrad:

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Expert Anthony Andrews believes the salt beds lining the coasts of the Yucatan provided profitable trade and contributed to these civilizations' success. Salt is a basic human requirement; most people requiring approximately 4 grams per day. It is estimated that Tikal's population of roughly 45,000 consumed approximately 131.4 tons of salt annually. During the Classic and Post Classic Periods small island populations on Caye Ambergris and Isla Mujeres traded salted fish.

Salt was also frequently used for ritual and medicinal purposes. It is also believed that salt was commonly used during childbirth and death. A midwife would offer salt to both parents at birth and a saline solution was sprinkled throughout the house following the death of a family member. However, Spanish reports during the conquest suggest that it was more an item of small-scale barter, rather than a major monetary unit.
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The obsidian trade is comparable to the salt trade; however, its uses and resource distribution differ. Like salt, trade of the volcanic glass resource flowed through core areas which were thus viewed as redistribution points not only for their own zones of political control, but for all lowland Maya centers.

Control of obsidian deposits was crucial as it pertains to politics and the power of elites. Stephen Kowalewski comments, "...complex polities may have controlled the production and exchange of obsidian commodities." If so, formalized exchange relationships may have existed between ruling elite members of the importing and exporting societies who would have governed the flow of important commodities such as obsidian.
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The majority of experts believe the trade of luxury goods empowered elites with greater prestige and status during the Classic Period. Luxury items included jade, quetzal feathers, cacao, seashells, elaborate polychrome pottery and embroidered cloth, chert, amber, and turquoise.
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Because long-distance trade was extremely labor intensive and costly, fine goods were primarily exchanged. This is not to infer that "non-luxurious" items such as salt and obsidian were rarely traded. In fact, Guderjan believes these goods dominated the markets during the Classic Period.
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Source(s):
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1574-the-ancient-maya-a-commercial-empir...

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