The Romans used shells on cast bronze coins in the 3rd century BC. They also produced cast bronze shells. I think some were votive items for Venus. The 1400's painting, The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli shows Venus on a shell. More recent art by Spun Ann Arbor, MI shows a similar scene. Shell / knucklebone Uncia and a whole and part shell sextans I think the cast bronze shells might have been votive items for Venus. The Birth of Venus painting by Sandro Botticelli dates to the 1480's. Today I bought a modern knock-off of this painting for my knitting wife. https://spun.mybigcommerce.com/spun-greeting-card/ Show me your shells.
....i reckon its a human thing cause shells have been used for money for several 1000 years BC... Bone cowrie shell
That's a shelluva collection You could knock out a barbarian with my heavy example: Aes formatum. AE solid cast cockle-shell, Central Italy, 6th-4th century BC. Vecchi ICC pl. 90,5; cf. G. Fallani, IANP Publication 8, 1986. pl. 6, 2-2c.. PB. 124.00 g. 44 x 41 mm. Heavy and attractive example. Earthen light green patina. Good VF. Purchased Artemide March 2021
China Zhou -Chou- Dynasty 1000-200 BCE Bronze cowrie Tong Bei - VF - Rare Stone China ANCIENT Cowrie Currency - Shang Dynasty 1750-1150 BCE BONE 2 holes 20mm Hartill 1-2v Coole 51-66
