The oldest examples of jewelry ever found, dating back as early as 100,000 years, were made of cowries and other shells. As time went on, cowries became symbols of power and a form of currency.

The Cowrie shell, part of the Cypraeidae family, is found in Western Australia and is known for its glossy exterior and spotted pattern. This particular shell is extremely rare, ...

Small seashells have many characteristics that make them ideal monetary objects. They are durable, portable, and difficult to imitate. One species of cowrie shell is known as the money shell because ...

The Smithsonian Natural History Museum's invertebrate zoology collection includes about 50,000 cowrie shells. Here's why some of these 'gems' might be too beautiful for their own good.

Cowries, or leho in Hawaiian, are one of the most widely collected sea shells. Of the 200 known variations of cowries in the world, 35 come from Hawaii; nine of these exist nowhere else in the world.

The history of the cowrie shell dates back centuries. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the earliest record of cowrie shells were found in 14th century Africa.

Cowrie shells have historically been used by Black women to make bold fashion statements, and Justice Jackson’s choice was a continuation of this tradition. For instance, ...

A 23ft (7m) tall bronze cowrie shell has been chosen as a London memorial to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. The Wake, by Khaleb Brooks, "reclaims the cowrie shell as a symbol of ...