money

The story of Indians selling Manhattan to the Dutch for a mere $24 worth of beads overlooks an more significant fact:

The tiny beads came in bulk, not on 'jewelry,' and were of uniform sizes and colors.

The Indians could now more easily and more quickly create beaded blankets and buckskins, which they sold back to the Dutch – in return for even more beads.

Thus both economies – Indian manufacturers and Dutch traders – flourished.