Hey, Numista, I recently learned that Cowry shells were once used as currency. I am currently at the beach and many shops sell them here. The problem is that I didn't realise that there are so many different varieties. I have a picture of all the ones I found in one store. Could someone please inform me if any of these would be the kind used as currency?
PS: Sorry about the not so great photo.
Cowry Shells were indeed used as currency in many parts of the world including the Indian subcontinent millennia ago. Perhaps some islands in the pacific may have used them until recently. But otherwise, those cowry shells are nice souvenir pieces you can pick at the beach rather than buy from a shop (unless they have some nice carving on them!)
Wait, how do collectors of cowry shells differentiate between actual shells used as currency in ancient civilisations, and shells picked up yesterday off the beach? Technically a shell is a shell and there's no difference, but if I wanted one I'd prefer a specimen that was actually used as currency, no?
Anyway, as to the exact type, I know (as a bit of Numista trivia!) that our awesome little site was originally named "Cypraea" way back in 2007 before it got it's current name, from the now sadly deleted Wikipedia page. I wondered what it meant, and a bit of Google-fu later, turns out it was a nod to cowry shell money: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypraea
None of those shells were picked up off the beach. Those were taken alive by diving on a coral reef, and then cleaned. Those are some nice examples.
The cowry animal maintains the polish on the outside of its shell while it is alive.
once it dies in the wild, the cast off cowry shell looses the polish and color and just look like sand if it washes up on the beach.
The so called 'money cowry' cypraea moneda, is a smaller shell like the on closest to your finger tips, but bright gold in color.
There is also a 'golden cowry' cypraea aurantia, which can reach 10cm. It is highly coveted, and is now rare.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Quote: "Mr. Midnight"The so called 'money cowry' cypraea moneda, is a smaller shell like the on closest to your finger tips, but bright gold in color.
Hmm, that's interesting, the cowry shell's binomial name has "currency" in Latin in it.
Thank you all for helping me out! I couldn't find any at the gift shops that appeared to be be Cypraea Moneda, but maybe some day I could get one that was truly used as currency.
Status changed to Solved(ethanmlego, 3 Eyl 2018, 17:29)
