WebIt’s strong and durable, which is why for centuries, cowrie shells were used as a currency in many parts of the world. From Africa to Asia, Oceania and in scattered places throughout Europe, the shells were “the most commonly used means of payment of the trading nations of the Old World (source).” WebThough cowrie shells are no longer used as currency in Africa, they still carry an association with money and wealth. In Ghana, their history is honored on a 20-cedi coin. Cedi, the Akan word for cowrie, is the unit of …
A Witch
WebMar 24, 2015 · It is found in enormous quantities in the Pacific, from the Moluccas eastward. Large fortunes were at one time made by European traders who transported shells to the west coasts of Africa and exchanged them for ivory, gold and slaves. A slave would be worth anything from 20,000 to 50,000 shells. In 1849 money cowries weighing 240 tons were ... WebJul 22, 2024 · This cowrie’s shell was small and smooth, suitable for transportation as ballast in the hulls of ships, and nearly impossible to forge. ... money cowries were used in this way before the rise of ... reddish purple lines on skin
Where do you find cowrie shells? - Kids Portal For Parents
WebSep 27, 2024 · People living near the sea – the Pacific and Indian Oceans, primarily – took a different approach, implementing cowrie shells from sea snails as an accepted form of currency. It’s believed that the brightly patterned cowrie shell is one of the longest-tenured forms of currency anywhere. The first indication of its use dates to 1,200 BC. WebJan 25, 2024 · Societies along the coast of the Indian ocean solved this problem about 1200 BC by introducing a more standardized currency: cowrie shells. This currency worked just like modern currency and it simplified commerce. As a medium of exchange, cowrie shells were more effective than barter. This currency caught on in Africa and East and South … WebThe cowrie, a type of marine snail, has very colourful shells which were used as money. It seems that it wasn’t just the colours that made the shell appealing - its small size and... reddish purple marks on skin