WEBSITE DIRECTORY
ORDERING INFO
ETHNOGRAPHIC MONEY:
BY REGION
BOOKS ON
BACKGROUND
Also called traditional money, primitive money or odd & curious money, this is a broad field covering all objects other than metal discs and rectangular pieces of paper which were used as money. Although definitions vary, the uses of money are generally given as medium of exchange, storage of wealth, and standard of value; the characteristics of money are portability, durability, divisibility, and distinctiveness. Coins and banknotes posses all of these properties, and are thus modern, general-purpose monies. Ethnographic moneys posses some of them, but rarely all. Many objects possessing some properties of money have dual function as jewelry, weapon, badge of office, religious talisman, etc. The collector who prizes objects for their beauty will tend to acquire pieces with fewer aspects of money, as money rarely needs to be pretty, while the purist who values these objects in proportion to their monetary function will tend to acquire scholarly books, as collector-oriented works and sales catalogs are liberal in what they call money, and short on specifics of use.
Below is just a start. I have a large stock of ethnographic monies which I will gradually list, Meanwhile, your inquiries are welcome.
REFERENCES
The best general anthropological survey of the field is A Survey of Primitive Money by Alice H. Quiggin, and a good collector-oriented reference with photos and valuations is An Ethnographic Study of traditional Money by Charles Opitz. These and many other more specialized works are offered here.
ILLUSTRATIONS and LISTINGS
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger scan. Size of scan is not related to size of actual object; look in the description for measurements. Sometimes the scan is of the actual piece being offered, but usually not; the word TYPE means it is just a general illustration representing multiple specimens in stock.
AMERICAS
Inca Gold Coins Similar pieces are described as "Peru,Chimu Culture, c. 1200 AD Repousse gold pendant, used as money" in H.Schulman Gibbs Sale, Pt. 1 (4/6-7/71) but Schulman was not the best authority on such things. They are gold, but are they Inca or Chimu? If so they are more likely decorative facings for a larger object, or pendants, than exchange items. Hand-chased designs on thin gold plate, drilled holes. Opinions sought! 20A) Wide head, 2.38gm, 38mm; 20B) Tall Head 2.05gm, 37mm; C) Animal 2.37gm, 38mm Each: $350
Spindle Whorls Lot of five terracotta Mexican spinning whorls, most with design. Sold by Paul Dillingham as NSA-19. Not actually money, but almost certainly old. 23b) Five pieces: 30.00
Razor Money Obsidian scrapers 90-100mm long, said to have been used by the Tarascan Indians of Mexico as a trade item. See Opitz p.242. These blades imprted by Paul Dillingham in 1970s. 70) As samples shown: 17.50
West Coast Wampum Strung lot of 90 shell beads. Probably clam shell made by Pomo Tribe. The more intact beads closely resemble bottom figure p.22 Wampum by C.J. Opitz (& p.367 Ethnographic Study). Many beads are more deteriorated, probably the effects of burial. Old tag reads "Indian Grave, Lake Co., Cal. / 90 Shell Disk wmpum Beads, av. diam. 7/16 in. String 14 in . . ." The brown envelope provenences the piece to the Sylvester collection sold by Frank Lapa in the 1960's when he worked for Daru Coin Co. of Chicago. The "IP" indicates it was handled by Paul Dillingham, and the buyer (B. Tabor) purchased it (1970s or 1980s) for $55. Although East Coast wampum is more famous, genuine wampum of any sort rarely comes on the market. 30) POR
Hoe Money: Oaxaca 1300?-1520 Mushroom shaped top, flat undersides, with ridges at sides of shaft, Hedges Fig.13, HLH-5b. Seldom seen on the market today. 60) 165x120m, Tips slightly frayed, as shown $175
Hoe Money: Ecuador ca. 800-1400 The original hoe/axe/scraper money from which later Mexican types were derived. Functional shape with usual striations across top and up shaft. A purchase of 20 pieces averages 75m high by 70m flared top. Weight ranges 11.72-20.85g with one 25.39g piece. Well described in Axe-Monies and Their Relatives by Hosler, Lechtman & Holm, 1990 and Opitz p.23-25: HLH Fig. 1, Type 1a, Quiggin p.313. Half the specimens are green, the other half brown with soil adhesions, sometimes with inked number. An important item, rarely on the market. 80) Each: $125
Mexican Hacienda Token Wooden disc with monogram TAR for Hacienda Trancoso, Zacatecas. Grove #2028 71) Large 29-30m example $8.50 71a) With numeral burned into reverse indicating number of sheep sheared. Average size. Numerals 5 & 7 available. $12.50 each 71s) Two sizes of plain reverse (one 25mm), plus one with numeral reverse. Set of 3: $22.50 71t) "Complete" set: Two different sizes blank reverse, and four different numeral reverse (5, 7, 3, 9), set of six. $50
Trade Silver Cross What W. Carter(North American Trade Silver p.75) calls a Jesuit Cross. Similar pieces are shown in Fredrickson The Covenant Chain; Indian and Ceremonial Trade Silver. Crude, thin cast silver blank with simple etched designs and a stamped Hallmark: (Lion?) to right. 141x72mm, 18.78gm. Shown enlarged. 27) POR
Ft. Sill Leather Tokens Leather token: dried out 34x24m leather with "FS" incuse. Lapa Sylvestre Collection envelope: "Leather Trade token of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, excavated 1896, 10 found" Indeed a good item if story can be verified. Two pieces available show only small portions of the "FS" monogram. Shown enlarged. 27) Each: $45.00
Padre Beads Chinese bead which travelled all over the world as part of the Spanish silver trade. Best known in North America where they were popular with Southwest US Amerinds, especially the tourquoise blue color. Made ca. late 18th-early 19th C. by the primtive winding process. Strand of 10-11", blue, white, or less common yellow, red. Also just in, translucent dark blue which I haven't seen before. 531) Each: $15, two or more $13.50 each. 531p) Scarcer cobalt-blue beads $27.50
MORE BEADS used in the Americas.
EUROPE
ASIA
925d Lead Ring Money Rings with bulbous ends are found from south India through Japan, but the lead ones from Java are best known, and almost certainly monetary, with a weight unit based on about 50 grams. Age perhaps 1200 AD, but based on a tenuous attribution. For more information and other sizes, see my Hindu S.E. Asia page. Opitz p.285 upper right Average 12.5gm Unit, about 18-25m 15.00
Ancient India Coin Mould Yaudheya Dynasty, ruling from the Ganges Valley to Punjab c. 190-340 AD. Kushan style AE Unit (avg. 11 gm, 23-26mm) with Karttikeya standing, holding sceptre, legend around, Rev: Diety standing with right arm raised, left akimbo. Clay moulds first came to light in the early 1980's at Sunet, Punjab, now a suburb of Chandigarh and and were officially excavated 1983-84. The moulds are a great mystery because while earlier series of Yaudheya coinage was cast, this series is only found struck, and neither cast forgeries nor clay tokens, suggested as the product of these moulds by some authors, are known.
Moulds are graded Sharp, Clear, or Poor but even the best of them do not show full details. The coins and moulds in this offering were purchased from different sources at different times.
IAM4726M Single Mould (Obverse) Sharp $27.50; Clear 19.50; Poor 13.50
IAM4726S1 Mould plus Coin Sharp (F-VF) $37.50; Clear (Vg-F) 25.00; Poor (G) 16.00
IAM4726S2 Obv. & Rev. Moulds plus Coin Sharp (F-VF) $65.00; Clear (Vg-F) 46.50; Poor (G) 30.00
K484 Nepal/Tibet Cut Tangka, Until conquered by the Chinese, Tibet relied on Nepal for its coinage. Fractions of the silver Tangka were at first cut straight across with 4 of the Buddhist lucky symbols showing in each half, or 3 for 1/3 Tangka, etc. The practice continued after Tibet had its own coinage, and by the late 19th or early 20th Cent. the cutters were subtracting a fee by taking away the centers or outer edges. As long as the lucky symbols were intact, the coin retained its nominal value. This is a Mohur of Pratapa Simha showing 4 Petals = 1/2 Tangka, with centers and outer edges cut away. KM (Nepal) #484, Rhodes The Coinage of Nepal #1424 (Sample pieces shown) Vg-F $15.00
SOUTHEAST ASIA & INDIES
COWRIE SHELLS - THE UNIVERSAL MONEY
Cowries (Cyprea Moneta and Cyprea Annullis) are the world's most universal currency. Found from Melanesia through the Maldive islands, they have been gathered for centuries and traded to virtually every civilization in southern Asia through Africa where they formed a low-end currency, often well into the 20th century.
Cowrie Shells (Cyprea Moneta) Used in the Orient, India, Africa,
etc; the most universal coin of all time. These are from Africa and "broken backed" (flattened) for
easier handling. Groups of mixed size, including Cyprea Annulis, a related but slightly more
angular shell 200) 10 pieces $2; 25 pieces $4; 100 pieces $10
Cowrie Necklace (Africa) Braided leather with simple knot & loop catch, several used cowries attached to dangle. These are monetary cowries, as note the "broken back" to make them flatter and easier to handle, but this is a jewelry use. Leather shows signs of wear and is somewhat stiff, so I recommend using a softener if you wish to wear this. Each piece slightly different; sample shown. 206 $7.85
Cowrie Belt (Burma) Double row of filed cowries threaded on three lengths of reed-like material to form a wearable belt; roughly 250 cowries. From the Chin or Karen tribes of Burma and Yunnan, where cowries are still used today for small purchases. I am not sure whether these belts are ornamental or a means of storing cowries, but cowries are not as common nor inexpensive here as they are in Africa. 207g) Full belt, as shown, some breaks in reed so belt is too fragile for actual wear $85; 207f) Partial belt, about 23" length, cowries more yellowed (see scan for sample) $45.
TOP OF PAGE | |
WEBSITE DIRECTORY
Inca Gold Coins Similar pieces are described as "Peru,Chimu Culture, c. 1200 AD Repousse gold pendant, used as money" in H.Schulman Gibbs Sale, Pt. 1 (4/6-7/71) but Schulman was not the best authority on such things. They are gold, but are they Inca or Chimu? If so they are more likely decorative facings for a larger object, or pendants, than exchange items. Hand-chased designs on thin gold plate, drilled holes. Opinions sought! 20A) Wide head, 2.38gm, 38mm; 20B) Tall Head 2.05gm, 37mm; C) Animal 2.37gm, 38mm Each: $350
Spindle Whorls Lot of five terracotta Mexican spinning whorls, most with design. Sold by Paul Dillingham as NSA-19. Not actually money, but almost certainly old. 23b) Five pieces: 30.00 
Razor Money Obsidian scrapers 90-100mm long, said to have been used by the Tarascan Indians of Mexico as a trade item. See Opitz p.242. These blades imprted by Paul Dillingham in 1970s. 70) As samples shown: 17.50 
West Coast Wampum Strung lot of 90 shell beads. Probably clam shell made by Pomo Tribe. The more intact beads closely resemble bottom figure p.22 Wampum by C.J. Opitz (& p.367 Ethnographic Study). Many beads are more deteriorated, probably the effects of burial. Old tag reads "Indian Grave, Lake Co., Cal. / 90 Shell Disk wmpum Beads, av. diam. 7/16 in. String 14 in . . ." The brown envelope provenences the piece to the Sylvester collection sold by Frank Lapa in the 1960's when he worked for Daru Coin Co. of Chicago. The "IP" indicates it was handled by Paul Dillingham, and the buyer (B. Tabor) purchased it (1970s or 1980s) for $55. Although East Coast wampum is more famous, genuine wampum of any sort rarely comes on the market. 30) POR
Hoe Money: Oaxaca 1300?-1520 Mushroom shaped top, flat undersides, with ridges at sides of shaft, Hedges Fig.13, HLH-5b. Seldom seen on the market today. 60) 165x120m, Tips slightly frayed, as shown $175 
Hoe Money: Ecuador ca. 800-1400 The original hoe/axe/scraper money from which later Mexican types were derived. Functional shape with usual striations across top and up shaft. A purchase of 20 pieces averages 75m high by 70m flared top. Weight ranges 11.72-20.85g with one 25.39g piece. Well described in Axe-Monies and Their Relatives by Hosler, Lechtman & Holm, 1990 and Opitz p.23-25: HLH Fig. 1, Type 1a, Quiggin p.313. Half the specimens are green, the other half brown with soil adhesions, sometimes with inked number. An important item, rarely on the market. 80) Each: $125
Mexican Hacienda Token Wooden disc with monogram TAR for Hacienda Trancoso, Zacatecas. Grove #2028 71) Large 29-30m example $8.50 71a) With numeral burned into reverse indicating number of sheep sheared. Average size. Numerals 5 & 7 available. $12.50 each 71s) Two sizes of plain reverse (one 25mm), plus one with numeral reverse. Set of 3: $22.50 71t) "Complete" set: Two different sizes blank reverse, and four different numeral reverse (5, 7, 3, 9), set of six. $50
Trade Silver Cross What W. Carter(North American Trade Silver p.75) calls a Jesuit Cross. Similar pieces are shown in Fredrickson The Covenant Chain; Indian and Ceremonial Trade Silver. Crude, thin cast silver blank with simple etched designs and a stamped Hallmark: (Lion?) to right. 141x72mm, 18.78gm. Shown enlarged. 27) POR
Ft. Sill Leather Tokens Leather token: dried out 34x24m leather with "FS" incuse. Lapa Sylvestre Collection envelope: "Leather Trade token of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, excavated 1896, 10 found" Indeed a good item if story can be verified. Two pieces available show only small portions of the "FS" monogram. Shown enlarged. 27) Each: $45.00
Padre Beads Chinese bead which travelled all over the world as part of the Spanish silver trade. Best known in North America where they were popular with Southwest US Amerinds, especially the tourquoise blue color. Made ca. late 18th-early 19th C. by the primtive winding process. Strand of 10-11", blue, white, or less common yellow, red. Also just in, translucent dark blue which I haven't seen before. 531) Each: $15, two or more $13.50 each. 531p) Scarcer cobalt-blue beads $27.50
925d Lead Ring Money Rings with bulbous ends are found from south India through Japan, but the lead ones from Java are best known, and almost certainly monetary, with a weight unit based on about 50 grams. Age perhaps 1200 AD, but based on a tenuous attribution. For more information and other sizes, see my Hindu S.E. Asia page. Opitz p.285 upper right Average 12.5gm Unit, about 18-25m 15.00
Ancient India Coin Mould Yaudheya Dynasty, ruling from the Ganges Valley to Punjab c. 190-340 AD. Kushan style AE Unit (avg. 11 gm, 23-26mm) with Karttikeya standing, holding sceptre, legend around, Rev: Diety standing with right arm raised, left akimbo. Clay moulds first came to light in the early 1980's at Sunet, Punjab, now a suburb of Chandigarh and and were officially excavated 1983-84. The moulds are a great mystery because while earlier series of Yaudheya coinage was cast, this series is only found struck, and neither cast forgeries nor clay tokens, suggested as the product of these moulds by some authors, are known.
K484 Nepal/Tibet Cut Tangka, Until conquered by the Chinese, Tibet relied on Nepal for its coinage. Fractions of the silver Tangka were at first cut straight across with 4 of the Buddhist lucky symbols showing in each half, or 3 for 1/3 Tangka, etc. The practice continued after Tibet had its own coinage, and by the late 19th or early 20th Cent. the cutters were subtracting a fee by taking away the centers or outer edges. As long as the lucky symbols were intact, the coin retained its nominal value. This is a Mohur of Pratapa Simha showing 4 Petals = 1/2 Tangka, with centers and outer edges cut away. KM (Nepal) #484, Rhodes The Coinage of Nepal #1424 (Sample pieces shown) Vg-F $15.00
Cowrie Necklace (Africa) Braided leather with simple knot & loop catch, several used cowries attached to dangle. These are monetary cowries, as note the "broken back" to make them flatter and easier to handle, but this is a jewelry use. Leather shows signs of wear and is somewhat stiff, so I recommend using a softener if you wish to wear this. Each piece slightly different; sample shown. 206 $7.85
Cowrie Belt (Burma) Double row of filed cowries threaded on three lengths of reed-like material to form a wearable belt; roughly 250 cowries. From the Chin or Karen tribes of Burma and Yunnan, where cowries are still used today for small purchases. I am not sure whether these belts are ornamental or a means of storing cowries, but cowries are not as common nor inexpensive here as they are in Africa. 207g) Full belt, as shown, some breaks in reed so belt is too fragile for actual wear $85; 207f) Partial belt, about 23" length, cowries more yellowed (see scan for sample) $45.