Set Of 3 Chinese “Cowry Shell” Or “Bèi” 貝 Money Coins, Shang Dyn 1766 - 1154 BC
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:31666170 | Country/Region of Manufacture: China |
ThreeChinese, ox bone “Cowry Shell” or “Bèi” 貝 money coins, Shang Dynasty 1766-1154 BC.Inscriptions and archeological evidence show that cowrie shells were regarded as important objects of value in the Shang Dynasty circa 1766- 1154 BC. Thesethree, ancient Chinese coins are fine examples of the first type ofmoney ever used in ancient China.
I guarantee it to be 100% original andauthentic or your money back! eBayNote: These ite...ms are made of ancient oxbone that is NOT from an endangered species. It is legal to sell on eBay.Thiswonderful set of 3 bone Cowrie shell coins has all three of the styles used inancient China: Small, Medium, and Large. DETAILS:This ancient, Chinese bronze money, called a bèiin Chinese, was made about 3, 800 years ago to look like the shell of a smallcrustacean that lives in the ocean called a “cowry” (plural “cowries”) or byits Latin species name CypraeMoneta, or in Chinese by the radical (also 商周鎏金铜贝).
It was used as the first type of moneyand/or decoration in what would become China.
Later, the rulingauthorities would cast bronze or carve ox bone imitations of the cowry shellthat were more durable. These three coins are made from ox bone and measuresabout .70" & .85" & 1.0" in length. You can alsojudge its size by the US penny in the photos. Zhou Dynasty warlords carefully controlled the production of these ox bonecoins that were used as currency, beads, and even placed in the tombs of thewealthy deceased as “funeral money” so that the deceased might have money tospend in the afterlife.
Look carefully atphotos and you can see the two small holes that were drilled in themoney so that they could be safely strung together in necklaces called “p’eng” in Chinese. Cowrie shells were used as money probably sincearound 2000 BC, from the Shang Dynasty up through the Zhou dynasty.
The naturalcowry shell was an intelligent solution to make "small money" becausethey were collected in seas far south of China and only kings could afford toimport them. Furthermore, natural shells were impossible to counterfeit.
Laterimitations were made of various materials: bone, stone, jade, clay, bronze, andeven silver and bronze with gold plating.
This example is made of ox bone andis in very good condition. I have carefully examined these coins under 10xmagnification and they show authentic and original signs of weathering andground contact that help to further authenticate it as an ancient piece. I guarantee these 3 coins to be100% authentic or your money back! Youwill not be disappointed! They have a wonderful old, patina that isabsolutely fabulous: a tan patina from the minerals in the surrounding soil.
This combination of colors forms a fantastic patina that is typical of bonethat has been buried for over 2, 800 years.
Close examination with a microscope under natural and black light revealit to be 100% authentic and carved by hand. Itis a wonderful piece and would look great displayed next to your other fineancient Chinese jade and bronze pieces!
05543
I guarantee it to be 100% original andauthentic or your money back! eBayNote: These ite...ms are made of ancient oxbone that is NOT from an endangered species. It is legal to sell on eBay.Thiswonderful set of 3 bone Cowrie shell coins has all three of the styles used inancient China: Small, Medium, and Large. DETAILS:This ancient, Chinese bronze money, called a bèiin Chinese, was made about 3, 800 years ago to look like the shell of a smallcrustacean that lives in the ocean called a “cowry” (plural “cowries”) or byits Latin species name CypraeMoneta, or in Chinese by the radical (also 商周鎏金铜贝).
It was used as the first type of moneyand/or decoration in what would become China.
Later, the rulingauthorities would cast bronze or carve ox bone imitations of the cowry shellthat were more durable. These three coins are made from ox bone and measuresabout .70" & .85" & 1.0" in length. You can alsojudge its size by the US penny in the photos. Zhou Dynasty warlords carefully controlled the production of these ox bonecoins that were used as currency, beads, and even placed in the tombs of thewealthy deceased as “funeral money” so that the deceased might have money tospend in the afterlife.
Look carefully atphotos and you can see the two small holes that were drilled in themoney so that they could be safely strung together in necklaces called “p’eng” in Chinese. Cowrie shells were used as money probably sincearound 2000 BC, from the Shang Dynasty up through the Zhou dynasty.
The naturalcowry shell was an intelligent solution to make "small money" becausethey were collected in seas far south of China and only kings could afford toimport them. Furthermore, natural shells were impossible to counterfeit.
Laterimitations were made of various materials: bone, stone, jade, clay, bronze, andeven silver and bronze with gold plating.
This example is made of ox bone andis in very good condition. I have carefully examined these coins under 10xmagnification and they show authentic and original signs of weathering andground contact that help to further authenticate it as an ancient piece. I guarantee these 3 coins to be100% authentic or your money back! Youwill not be disappointed! They have a wonderful old, patina that isabsolutely fabulous: a tan patina from the minerals in the surrounding soil.
This combination of colors forms a fantastic patina that is typical of bonethat has been buried for over 2, 800 years.
Close examination with a microscope under natural and black light revealit to be 100% authentic and carved by hand. Itis a wonderful piece and would look great displayed next to your other fineancient Chinese jade and bronze pieces!
05543
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