Final answer:
The Aztecs used various goods such as gold and cacao beans as commodity currency, with gold being an especially significant tribute item.
The tribute system established an efficient economic exchange that circulated diverse resources throughout the empire. This system laid a foundation for early commercial capitalism in the New World.
Step-by-step explanation:
The commodity currency for the Aztecs, which functioned as a medium of economic exchange, was not a single item but rather a variety of goods.
These included gold, as well as cacao beans, textiles, and other valuable materials. Gold, known as teocuitlatl or 'godly excrement', was highly valued by the Aztecs for its spiritual and material worth. However, it was not the primary medium of exchange; instead, it was part of the tribute system.
The Aztec tribute system was a sophisticated method of economic regulation and resource distribution, whereby conquered territories provided a variety of goods depending on their location and available resources.
During the early trade stages, goods like salt served as a currency before other valuable items like gold and copper became prominent. This form of economy worked well for the Aztecs because it allowed for the flow of diverse resources into the centers of power, benefitting both the elite and the commoners.
This early form of commodity exchange contributed to a rich internal economy and was a forerunner of commercial capitalism introduced to the New World during the Columbian Exchange.