My feature Primitive Money for Sunday April 15 is the Cowrie Shell. (1200 BC to mid 20th century)

Historically, many societies have used cowries as money. The cowrie is the most widely and longest used currency in history.

The use of Cowrie Shells as money dates from ancient times (1200 BC). As a form of money it spread from China and India eastward to the Pacific Islands. It traveled across and encircled Africa to the west and even penetrated into the New World.

As late as the middle of the last century Cowrie Shells were still used as money in isolated areas of New Guinea. At that time one Cowrie Shell would pay for a man's labor for half a day and three would be enough to purchase a pig.

The Cowrie Shells in this picture were obtained by my father in New Guinea during the Second World War.

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