Ceramic Clay Cowrie - Museum Gallery

November 2024

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China primitive money, ceramic clay imitation cowrie, ~ 800 BC or later. During shang Dynasty (1766 BC - 1154 BC), natural cowrie shell were widely used as a form of primitive money or grave article. Later during Zhou dynasty, bone, pottery and bronze imitation cowries were made to substitute the natural cowries.
33 mm (L) X 19 mm (W) / 2.83g

Moneta Library has articles on Cowries to VIEW and DOWNLOAD:
The Worlds's First Money, Chinese Cowries and Their Imitations - by Ted Puls: [ link ]
Cowries - Bob Reis: [ link ]
Origin of Cowries in Ancient China - UofPa: [ link ]
Metallic Cowries - Royal Asiatic Society: [ link ]
Nice Video on Cowrie history: [ link ]
An excellent article in ANA's "Numismatist" magazine, Oct 2017 > [ link ]
SEE how far back in time decorative sea shells were important to prehistoric man at his : [ link ]
Interested in Primitive Money? Then check out this YouTube video created by Kagins Auctions featuring Bob Leonard and Charles Opitz upon the massive sale in March 2021. Click this: [ link ]