Clay "Ant & Nose" - Museum Gallery

November 2024

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Perhaps you are familiar with the modern imitation paper money burned in Chinese funerals known as "HELL" money. At some of these functions miniature papier mache models of cars, TV sets, etc. are also burned as part of the proceedings. These modern versions are survivals of practices that began thousands of years ago with the interment of real objects, animals, and even people at the funeral.
These cowry derivatives are "Hell" money. It's reasonable to assume that the cowries are late Zhou, perhaps 300 BC, when they were using cowries and cowrie imitations for money. This particular type is:
ZHOU Dynasty, 1122-255 BC, ant-nose series, "Jun," H1.12, FD-5

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 ]