NumisBids
  
Stephen Album Rare Coins
Auction 41  16-19 Sep 2021
View prices realized

Lot 2431

Starting price: 60 USD
Price realized: 160 USD
Find similar lots
Share this lot: Share by Email
ZHOU: Anonymous, 1000-700 BC, AE cowrie (1.14g), H-1.3, bronze imitation cowrie shell money, a lovely quality example! VF. 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.

Estimate: 75-100 USD
Question about this auction? Contact Stephen Album Rare Coins