Cowrie shell money

I was cleaning my desk, I came across this cowrie shell money. It was a SS gift. It is very interesting.
I am not sure what Imitation means. Says 3rd to 2nd millennia BC
And, I have heard the name before but who is Frank Robinson?
And as all ways please post any that you have. I would like to learn, are these mostly the same shape? why are they holed?
Thanks

 

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Frank holds email/correspondence-based ancients auctions and is relatively well-known. http://www.fsrcoin.com/

(I haven't had the chance yet to bid in any of his auctions, but it's fun to sift through his inventory and see what others win!)

 

I'm a noob but can tell you Frank Robinson is a coin dealer, with an outrageous sense of humor, out of NY. Very cool and honest dealer. The holes make me think jewelry? And my guess is it is carved out of bone imitating shell. But just wait, one of the pros will chime in and prove me all wrong...except about Frank

 

Frank is a great Coin provider via his auctions.

I understand the bone cowrie shells have holes so that they could be strung together or sewed on clothing.

I have several examples of various cowrie shell coin materials (bone, clay, AE). Here is one similar to yours.


China ANCIENT Cowrie - BONE 2 holes for clothing or funeral bier 20mm Hartill 1-2v Coole 51-66

 

What does the clay look like? And AE would be a form of metal?

 

i'd say its legit. they made bone ones cause of either shortages of real shells or so far inland they didn't have access to them.. bone ones are kool.. and Frank Robinson's an ancients household name.

 

Yes, AE = bronze.

 

Most of your questions have been answered. Yes, they all generally look the same, though each specific type has its own characteristics (bone, clay, bronze). I have a clay one on my desk at the moment, but no photo. It can also be argued that the bronze 'ant nose' issues are based on the cowrie types. Also, as to the holes, they are for attachment to burial garments. Cowries had always been a significant burial good, and the imitative types ultimately in the end were almost all for burial, not for any other use.

 

Here's a previous discussion about cowry shells and their variations: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/china-imitation-bone-cowrie-money.304579/

 

What Ken says:

 

Interesting, but now after that photo a little creepy. To think that some of these might have been the result of grave robbing.

 

All Cowries are from CHINA (est 1000-200 BCE):
(I got these from Bob Reis)


China Zhou -Chou- 1000-200 BCE Dynasty AE Bronze cowrie Tong Bei - VF - Rare
Ex: @TypeCoin971793 (I did not forget!)


China Cowrie Shell Pottery/Clay


Bone


Bone

Stone


Clay

 

Frank is indeed well known but tends to have a lower profile than other ancients dealers. His lists for sale and auction are done by email and direct mail and he does have a great sense of humor. I purchased, last year, a lot of fairly unknown Palembang, Indonesia Tin Pitus coins for use on another venue. KP only lists two but there are over 291 varieties for which he has also written a book about along with photos. A trusted dealer. He's been at it for a very long time. He does not usually send out lists unless you buy something from him but you can email him with your email addy and will get regular lists and updates that way.

 

@Alegandron Your AE is Fascinating, I wonder how thick it was before spending countless years in the ground, and being exposed to the elements.
I understand the imitation now.

 

Frank Robinson's name has come up quite often, since I have been a member here. I even remember @Curtisimo telling me that he held auctions. Trust is a big factor, especially in the fact that you are buying something unseen. I have come across other examples of coins with his name on them besides two I got from my Secret Santa, I have also come to realize, and for the most part agree with his grading standards. One day when I am more confident with my ability to discern photos, I will buy this way occasionally.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

..your mean yours, right?...i got mine from there, but other cultures used them too, from what i've read, up till modern times.. China being the oldest and mostest of course (heck, i didn't realize mine was a bone one till i posted it on here a while back and i got it over 13 years ago.)

 

That is why so many of the bone cowries have a green hue to them. They were often buried with bronze items or in brinze vessels.

And given the value of cowries in ancient China, it is quite understandable how most people (except the wealthy, of course) would prefer to use cheap imitations rather than valuable genuine cowries. This practice of subsituting money with imitations made of a cheap material lasted for many hundreds of years. Lead coins are almost always burial coins (since lead was far less valuable than bronze) and I have seen some made out of clay. These would be used by the deceased in the afterlife to pay for averything they need.

That first one came from me.