Pismo Beach, California, 1 Dollar, 1933 (clamshell)

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Object Details

maker

Restwell Cabins

Description

Seashells have many characteristics that make them ideal monetary objects. They are durable, portable, and difficult to imitate. Shells circulated as a medium of exchange in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and North America. Seashells are no longer an official form of money, but they remain an alternative to notes and coins during periods of scarcity. This clamshell briefly functioned as money in Pismo Beach, California, during the Great Depression. It has characteristics that imitate federal money, including the phrase “In God We Trust” written on the side.

Credit Line

Chase Manhattan Bank

date made

1933

date on object

1933-03-08

ID Number

1979.1263.00468

accession number

1979.1263

catalog number

79.112.OC102B

collector/donor number

OC102

Object Name

nontraditional money

alternative currency

Physical Description

shell, clam (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 9.9 cm x 13.6 cm x 2.8 cm; 3 29/32 in x 5 11/32 in x 1 3/32 in

place made

United States: California, Pismo Beach

Related Publication

Zoomable Image and Details

Glossary of Coins and Currency Terms

Related Web Publication

http://americanhistory.si.edu/coins/glossary.cfm

See more items in

Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection

Coins

Numismatics

Coins, Currency and Medals

Legendary Coins

Exhibition

Value of Money

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

Data Source