There was a barter system among professionals in the DC area back in the 80s/90s. For instance, an architect could barter office or home remodeling for a dentist who worked on his family’s teeth. Someone ran the program and figured out relative values. Worked pretty well.
I am not surprised. After a few trades I think most people would figure out the value of one good in terms of another, especially since each one would be providing one of the goods and not just currency.
I am sure the barter system in DC was set up to avoid taxes, whether income or sales.
There are still barter ‘clubs’. My cousin’s daughter works for a printing company. The owner belongs to a barter club and is always giving her stuff that he traded work for....tickets to Magic Mountain, Seaworld, etc. That is just the stuff he gives her family.
A now rich Russian business man set up a similar exchange when their currency went to pot.