1894.27.214.1

Collection type

Object

Description

17 Cowrie shells used as money.

Long description

17 Cowrie shells used as money. Shell [.8] has a smooth lower surface. [MJD 14/12/2009]

Geographical reference

India

Asia > Southern Asia > India

Pakistan

Asia > Southern Asia > Pakistan

Punjab

Person

Field collector Richard Carnac Temple

PRM source Richard Carnac Temple

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1894

Date collected

By 1894

Acquisition information

Donated: 1894

Materials and processes

Material Cowrie Shell

Dimensions

Length 17 mm, Length 23 mm, Length 20 mm, Length 19 mm, Length 20 mm, Length 21 mm, Length 19 mm, Length 19 mm, Length 16 mm, Length 17 mm, Length 13 mm, Length 14 mm, Length 12 mm, Length 13 mm, Length 15 mm, Length 15 mm, Length 15 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1894.27.214.1 Accession number: 1894.27.214.2 Accession number: 1894.27.214.3 Accession number: 1894.27.214.4 Accession number: 1894.27.214.5 Accession number: 1894.27.214.6 Accession number: 1894.27.214.7 Accession number: 1894.27.214.8 Accession number: 1894.27.214.9 Accession number: 1894.27.214.10 Accession number: 1894.27.214.11 Accession number: 1894.27.214.12 Accession number: 1894.27.214.13 Accession number: 1894.27.214.14 Accession number: 1894.27.214.15 Accession number: 1894.27.214.16 Accession number: 1894.27.214.17

Associated publications

This object was featured in the Museum’s ‘web gallery’ (‘Selected Objects from the Lower Gallery’) produced during the DCF-funded ‘What’s Upstairs?’ project, 2004–2006, with the following caption: ‘Cowrie shells have been widely used as a form of currency. Because they are a relatively standard size and shape, their value is easily judged. These cowries were acquired from a banker in the Punjab area of India in the late nineteenth century.

Search terms: Currency, Token