Cowrie Shell

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Object Details

Description

Small seashells have many characteristics that make them ideal monetary objects. They are durable, portable, and difficult to imitate. One species of cowrie shell is known as the money shell because it was used so widely for this purpose. Shells circulated as a medium of exchange in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and North America.

Credit Line

Mendel L. Peterson

date made

n.d.

ID Number

NU.70.80.11.06

accession number

288726

catalog number

70.80.11.06

Object Name

alternative currency

Cowrie Shell

Other Terms

alternative currency; Oceania, South Pacific

Physical Description

shell (overall material)

white (overall color)

orange/yellow (overall color)

gray (overall color)

natural (overall production method/technique)

Measurements

overall: 2.1 cm x 1.65 cm x 1.1 cm; 13/16 in x 21/32 in x 7/16 in

place made

Oceanic

Related Publication

Feingold, Ellen R.. Value of Money, The

See more items in

Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection

Exhibition

Value of Money

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-feb3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_1066365