Primitive earliest Chinese coinage - cowrie shell imitation made out of carved and filed white jade with two holes for stringing. 20mm long, 0.68 grams. Cf. Hartill 1.1-1.2. SKU x3519-hv8076T

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.