Throughout history, countless forms of money have emerged from various materials such as metals, feathers, glass, spices, and paper. What functions and definitions must an object fulfill to be considered money? Constanze Dupont examines the exchange of gifts, money, and food on the Micronesian islands of Palau, which accompanies life from birth to death and remains a living tradition. Due to changing lifestyles, economic priorities, and consumer mindsets, these customs have evolved and been adapted to the demands of the present. Dupont discusses the types of traditional money, explains its past and present use, and investigates how Palau's monetary system has changed under the influence of foreign cultures.