You've heard of Ring Money and there are some available on most auction sights like eBay and Yahoo. There are listings for older antique specimens and there are listings for some that were just finished being made yesterday, but where and when did ring money come into being? Modern ring money is quite different from ancient ring money in that today's artisan takes a coin and makes it into a ring by drilling out the center and filing it smooth. In examining ancient ring money, care must be taken not to confuse them with coins made in the shape of rings. The fresco paintings in the tombs of Egypt exhibit people bringing, as tribute, to the foot of the throne of Pharaoh, bags of gold and silver rings, at a period before the exodus of the Israelites. Great quantities of ring-money have been found in different countries, including Ireland. The ancient Britons had them. That these rings were used for money, is confirmed by the fact that, on being weighted, by far the greater number of them appear to be exact multiples of a certain standard unit. Layard mentions that Dr. Lepsius has recently published a bas relief, from an Egyptian tomb, representing a man weighing rings of gold and silver, with weights in the form of a bull's head; and Layard also gives a seeming outline of the subject, (although its description speaks of "weights in the form of a seated lion.") It is presumed that these rings are intended for ring-money; the fact of weighing them strengthens this idea. Click for Ancient English ring money photo: www.clevelandart.org/explore/magnify.asp?wolD=7755& As always, any monetary or barter system came into being by the neccessity of purchasing something. During the 3rd through 1st century B.C, France and England used ring money to purchase smaller items. Depending on the transaction the rings were made of gold, copper, bronze, silver or gold plated. Ring money became prominent in Pre Christian Celtic Ireland. Pre Christian Ireland had a very precise set of laws which involved an atonement payment by the perpetrator of crime to the victim or victim's family. If not paid, the criminal could be put to death. Cattle and/or slaves were an accepted medium of large judicial decisions. Smaller decisions were paid with tools and ornaments. Here's some photos of Celtic ring money: www.irishcoinage.com/X00003.HTM Another prominent use for Ring money just before the Christian era was in playing the card game Whist by the ladies within the English aristocracy. One of the first gambling games in England where wagers were made with ring money. Whist is the mother of poker! Clinker
