WebMonetaria moneta, common name the money cowrie, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. [1] This species is called "money cowrie" because the shells were historically widely used in many Pacific and Indian Ocean countries as shell money before coinage was in common usage. WebAs our currency was used for a good 4,000 years, from the end of the 3 rd century BC to the second half of the 20 th century AD. Yes, that used to be a currency and an extremely successful one too. The porcelain-like shell of the cowry circulated around the globe longer than any other currency in the history of money.

The Meaning and Use of Cowrie Shells - Passport Ocean

Web9 mei 2024 · The popular cowrie and shells have many uses and are in the form of money, jewelry and some religious items. Used as a form of currency and Chinese used its shape to form their pictography for money. Moreover, the money has found in the form of brass and silver. How were cowries used in the ancient period? WebWhile commonly narrowed to spiritual uses, and viewed as fetish items, cowries have held a variety of uses and applications over the course of history as described below. Protection and... efmb training army

Where do you find cowrie shells? - Kids Portal For Parents

Web26 okt. 1996 · But over the last 10,000 years, the material form that money has taken has changed considerably—from cattle and cowrie shells to today's electronic currency. Here, get an overview of the history ... Webcowrie, any of several marine snails of the subclass Prosobranchia (class Gastropoda) comprising the genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae. The humped, thick shell is beautifully coloured (often speckled) and glossy; the apertural lips, which open into the first whorl in the shell, are inrolled and may be fine-toothed. Cowries occur chiefly in coastal waters of the … WebCowrie shells are shell of a mollusk that was widely available in the waters of the Pacific and Indian Ocean. More than just a decorative piece, it was first used as money in China during the Shang dynasty. Its main advantage is that it is almost impossible to forge them. efm building