History of the Seashell Money Cowrie or Kaori History of the Cowrie/Kaori Seashell Usage as Money
The cowrie currency was the longest and most widely used currency ever. In China, cowries were used as money already some 3000 years ago. From there, they spread over Thailand and Vietnam into the Indian subcontinent. Finally, they also came into use on the Philippines, the Maldives, in New Guinea, the South Seas, and Africa.
Cowries are sea shells living in more than 200 varieties in warm oceans. They owed their popularity as money to their durability and manageability. They were easy to transport and forgery-proof. Besides, their nice and shiny surface made them popular as embellishments.
Source: https://www.moneymuseum.com/en/coins?&id=884
The word cowrie comes from Kiswahili Kauri (meaning ceramic/porcelain)
The Classical Chinese character for money (貝) originated as a stylized drawing of a Maldivian cowrie shell
Gold 金
