Image via Wikipedia
The cowry shell (also spelled ‘cowrie’) is popular on jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets and is found in varying sizes as you can see in the picture from Wikipedia. This shell was widely used throughout the world as a form of currency.
I found another interesting use for the cowry. According to the “Shells in History” site, In China, the number of cowrie’s stuffed into the mouths of the dead was determined by how important that person was. Commoners had rice instead of shells, but the emperor had nine cowry shells in his!
Click here and get a FREE, printable coloring page of this shell.
Cowry Shells
I doubt that the Emperor had shells of this size in his mouth (the one on the left is over 4 inches long!), but Cowries come in all sizes and according to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island, Florida, the money cowry was the most widely circulated currency in history.
3 & 4 inch Cowry Shells, Showing underneath the Tiger
The shell on the right in my photos is a Tiger Cowry and the one on the left is a Measled Cowry. Both of mine were purchased about 20 years ago.
Related Articles
- Seashell Identification ~ Florida Lightning Whelk (seashellsbymillhill.wordpress.com)
- The Wandering Meatloaf Seashell (seashellsbymillhill.wordpress.com)
- The Scotch Bonnet Seashell (seashellsbymillhill.wordpress.com)
Pingback: Match the Seashells to Their Names Worksheet | Seashells by Millhill
glutenfreealaska
How much are the larger tiger shells worth ? Does price go according to size?
Dustytoes
I really don’t know.
Pingback: Seashell Identification: How I Got Started | Seashells by Millhill
Pingback: Buying Seashells « Seashells by Millhill
marlo
Trying again:
http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l110/olram9/Cypraea/?action=view¤t=Cypraeacervus_2613C.jpg
seashellsbymillhill
Thank you Marlo…I appreciate your input and photo link…!!
marlo
Trying again with an image:
marlo
The cowry on the left is Cypraea cervus (Linnaeus, 1771) – Atlantic Deer Cowrie. It is found throughout Florida.
[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l110/olram9/Cypraea/Cypraeacervus_2613C.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l110/olram9/Cypraea/Cypraeacervus_2610C.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l110/olram9/Cypraea/Cypraeacervus_2668.jpg[/IMG]
For more about Florida Cowries, go to http://z14.invisionfree.com/Conchologist_Forum/index.php?showtopic=458&view=findpost&p=3322916
flandrumhill
I have a tiger cowry and people often comment that it looks like it’s porcelain and not shell. I can see why they were considered so precious. I’ve had mine since 1970 and it looks the same as it did when I got it as a little girl.
seashellsbymillhill
I agree, they are so shiny and amazingly durable. Thanks for the visit !
Pingback: Naming Seashells From the Florida Gulf Coast « Seashells by Millhill