ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Commodity money

Commodity money is money that has value all on its own, like a commodity. Examples of commodities that have been used as money are things like gold, silver, and even salt. You can use these commodities to trade for things you need and want, just like money. The advantage of commodity money is that it has inherent value, which means it won't just be worthless if something goes wrong with the economy.