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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,490 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Part one of me slew of recent acquisitions .... The first manufactured coin. In China, people were using Cowrie Shells as a medium of currency since the second millennium BC. These were natural shells from the environment and used in exchange for goods and services. THEN- at some point someone said, "hey there is only so many shells to go around." So people began manufacturing "coins" from animal bones, they often cut lines and holes and shaped them like the shells that were so coveted since the time before time. Here you have my example, an early primitive example of a Deer bone Cowrie shell.This coin was in circulation before the invention of mining and metal casting. As always comments, suggestions and additions to my post are always welcome...I challenge you all to find an older "coin"... China Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) Deer Bone Primitive Cowrie Shell Imitation 19.0mm (1.69g) Ref: Hartill Type #1.2 Western Zhou Dynasty  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice, my oldest Chinese coin only goes back to 221 BC.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
oh, that's cool AN.  I've seen some of those before and some other old items that may challenge the definition of "coin" (like those old chinese blade looking currency or the celtic rings). i'll probably have to pick up some of that stuff someday...but I'm back on the wagon for now.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Anoob, you could show me a rock from your garden and tell me it's an Ancient Chinese coin for all I know about them.
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Valued Member
United States
419 Posts |
LOL I am with you Bing!!!
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Moderator
Australia
16868 Posts |
Quote:
This coin was in circulation before the invention of mining and metal casting. That's not correct; the Bronze Age in China began sometime around 3100 BC, slightly later than the beginnings of the Bronze Age in the West (~3600 BC). The Chinese Iron Age began ~1200 BC. So in 1000 BC, they could theoretically have used metal, either bronze or iron, but chose not to. These earliest pseudo-cowries were made of bone rather than bronze because bone more closely resembles a seashell than metal does. As for earlier coins, it does depend on the definition of "coin". The earliest Chinese spade coins date from around the same time period as the pseudo-cowries. And Eastern and Western archaeologists love to argue about which civilization "invented coinage first". There are some Greek oboloi, iron sticks that were specifically made for use as trade goods (money), that have been dated to circa 800 BC; but they're more "primitive money" rather than "coins". You can see grainy pics of a handful of them from the Numismatic Museum of Athens collection on Wikipedia. The Chinese spades and bone cowries are also technically "primitive money" too, but at least the pseudo-cowries are kind of roundish, so more easily qualify as "early coins". Chinese pseudo-cowries are also far more abundant than the Greek iron sticks, so much more likely to find their way into the hands of collectors. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5155 Posts |
To bad you guys don't collect primitive coinage....I could make a fortune!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
sap got me looking around a bit, look at this picture of the spade type "coin"...it actually has a hollow handle type thing...  and I thought these were smallish, check the dimensions.. Dimension: 87 mm (L) x 48 mm (W) glad I don't have to carry those around in my pocket! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I have a few of those small dolphinish shaped coins from Greece c. 600 BC. Mine are in such horrible condition they don't look better then old rust nails. Thanks for the enlightened correction there sap. Always appreciated. Maybe I should correct that to read mining and metal casting for the use of coins. I have a friend which has a large collection of the spade and early coinages of China. his earliest spade urr.. knife coin dates to the end of the Zhao around 770 BC. Neat pieces to say the least.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Cool numismatic history!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Homer refers to value in cattle. Before a physical representation of money it seems there was a theoretical conversion based on the worth of a cow...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I am glad you all liked my wicked old coin....This thing was ancient when most of our ancient coins where being circulated....hows that for interesting?
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,490 |
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Posted 11/13/2012 7:37 pm
