771 v. Chr Rare mother of pearl cowrie-coin, W.Zhou dynasty (1046-771 BC), China - Hartill #1.2

Primitive earliest Chinese coinage - cowrie shell imitation made out of mother-of-pearl with two holes and with "teeth". 23mm long, 2.00 grams. Hartill type #1.2.

Rare type, examples made out of mother-of-pearl are rare.

Cowries were used as primitive money in China since the 2nd millenium BC. Later on, bronze, gold and gold-plated cowrie-shaped coins and cowrie-shaped coins made out of carved stone, sea-shell or bone (like this piece) were used as money. This piece is of very nice high quality!

This coin is unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.

SKU  x13216-w75001