Zhou Silver covered Cowrie

November 2024

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ZHOU: Anonymous, 1000-700 BC, silvered AE cowrie (6.09g), H-1, silvered bronze imitation cowrie shell money, usual encrustation, EF, ex Dr. Dirk Löer Collection. Cowrie shells, in Chinese called bèi, were used as money probably since around 2000 BC, from the Shang dynasty up through the Zhou dynasty. The cowries were an intelligent solution to make "small money" because they were collected in seas far south of China and only kings could afford to import them. Furthermore natural shells were impossible to counterfeit. Later imitations were made of various materials: bone, stone, jade, clay, bronze, and even silver and bronze with gold plating. [Steve Album Auction site for photo and text].
After many years of collecting these this is the first silver covered bronze cowrie I have ever seen (rather than plated or solid). So this is a borrowed photo to ensure I have the most complete Museum of cowries and their imitations on the web.

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 ]