Primitive earliest Chinese coinage - cowrie shell imitation made out of bone with one hole and "teeth". 19mm long, 1.37 grams. Hartill type #1.2.

Rare type.

Cowries were used as primitive money in China since the 2nd millenium BC. Later on, bronze, gold and gold-plated cowrie-shaped coins and cowrie-shaped coins made out of carved stone, sea-shell or bone (like this piece) were used as money. This piece is of very nice high quality!

This coin is unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.

SKU   xv 2251-w75015