Long before currencies came into existence, people used different mediums for payment. One such medium was shells. They were exchanged for the goods and services one wanted.
The history of shell money dates back to 3500 BC. It is believed to have been used since then on almost all continents- America, Asia, Africa and Australia. But the shells would differ.
History records that portions cut and polished from cone shaped shells were used by the Ancient Sumerians, who were among the first to use shell money. Native Americans, on the other hand, used long-shelled molluscs.
Australian tribes too, are known to have used varied kinds of shells. Interestingly, each tribe had their own peculiar shell money. Hence, the ‘currency’ of one tribe was rarely accepted among others.