1244

LOT WITHDRAWN (damaged)

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Chinese Coins - Ancient Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:0.00 USD
LOT WITHDRAWN (damaged)
SPENDING LIMITS - If you need a higher spending limit please email us at payments@stevealbum.com

BUYER'S PREMIUM - The Buyer's Premium is $20 per lot or 20% of the hammer price, whichever amount is greater.
LOT WITHDRAWN (damaged)

ZHOU: Anonymous, 1000-700 BC, gilt AE cowrie (2.34g), H-1, gilt bronze imitation cowrie shell money with vertical slit, usual encrustation, VF

ex Stephen Album Rare Coins Auction 21, Lot 712 (part)
ex Zhao Quanzhi Collection

Cowrie shells, in Chinese called bèi, were used as money probably since around 2000 BC, from the Shang dynasty up through the Zhou dynasty. The cowries were an intelligent solution to make "small money" because they were collected in seas far south of China and only kings could afford to import them. Furthermore natural shells were impossible to counterfeit. Later imitations were made of various materials: bone, stone, jade, clay, bronze, and even silver and bronze with gold plating.