Primitive earliest Chinese coinage - large cowrie shell imitation made out of carved and filed jade with one hole for stringing. 29mm long, 7.75 grams. Cf. Hartill 1.1-1.2; Schjoth #A-8 (this type); Zeno #315431 (same type). 

Rare type, these were usually carved marble and not jade. Large jade pieces like this one are rare.

These dark jade stone cowries are probably the earliest of all carved cowries. It is likely that they were produced in the 2nd millenium BC and early 1st millenium BC. These are popular early artifacts and some of the earliest proto-coins on earth. Cowries were used as primitive money in China since the 2nd millenium BC. Later on, bronze cowrie-shaped coins and cowrie-shaped coins made out of carved stone (like this piece) were used as money. This type, made of carved jade is a rare local cowrie issue.

This coin is unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.

SKU   xv2113-w71604