TOLAI CURRENCY RING

Literature: "…The standard unit of tabu currency is one param—a string roughly the length of an adult’s arm span, bearing approximately 300 shells. Tabu derives its economic value from the effort that goes into producing it and acquires its cultural value as it changes hands over the course of many rituals and ceremonies.

… new shell money is regarded with suspicion—to make it sacred and drive away any bad magic associated with dead shells, the owner must perform a ritual. The Tolai generally reserve newly fabricated money for ceremonies or traditional payment of large fines. It must feature in at least one mortuary ritual before it can be used as ordinary currency for everyday domestic products." (Martin Maden in The Spiritual Shell Money of Papua New Guinea, Claudio Sieber & Shanna Baker in https://hakaimagazine.com/videos-visuals/cash-with-spiritual-currency/)

Ref. : Lautz, T.: FEDERGELD UND MUSCHELKETTEN. Geldgeschichlichen Museum der Kreissparkasse, Köln. 1992.

Exhibition: Exp./Pub.: Monnaies & Merveilles. La Monnaie de Paris, Silvana Editoriale, Milan, 2022, p. 125.