What Were The Fist Numbers?

Numbers were never really used until currency was brought up, before then there was no definite word for a particular quantity of anything, they would use words like 'a few' or 'lots'. But then with the invention of currency they needed something to make it more specific.
The first ever system was designed by the chinese, which involved lying sticks in different positions (as pencil and paper didn't exist.)
This was the very first system of counting ever known... That is if counting fingers, etc don't count.
Edit: Sorry I don't know how to insert pictures, so I can't actually show you the system. But I hope from my description you can get an idea.