Currencies/Guinean cauri
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Introduction
The Guinean Cauri was a traditional currency consisting of cowrie shells (Cypraea moneta), used across the region of present-day Guinea before the introduction of European coinage. It functioned as a medium of small exchange and a symbol of wealth, deeply integrated into the economic and social systems of West Africa.
History
Cowrie shells reached Guinea through trans-Saharan trade and Indian Ocean routes, circulating widely by the 14th century.
They were commonly used under regional empires such as the Mali Empire and later local Guinean states, where they served as both currency and tribute.
Cauris remained a principal form of trade payment for centuries until their gradual decline in the late 19th century, following the introduction of French colonial coins.
Coins
Although the cauri itself was not a metal coin, it held a recognized monetary value equivalent to coin denominations. Merchants and officials sometimes converted its worth into equivalents of gold dust or later metal coins for taxation and trade. During the colonial period, cauris were eventually replaced by minted coins such as the French franc and later the Guinean franc, but older records still referenced cauri equivalents in local transactions.
Currency
The cauri functioned on a quantity-based valuation system, where strings or sacks of shells represented specific values. Rates varied by region, time, and trade conditions, but large quantities could equate to small amounts of silver or gold coins once colonial monetary standards were introduced.
Legacy
The Guinean Cauri remains an enduring symbol of pre-colonial African trade and economic autonomy. It continues to appear in art, jewelry, and ceremonial uses, representing prosperity and continuity of Guinean cultural heritage. Though long replaced by metal and paper money, its legacy endures as one of the earliest and most widespread currencies in West Africa.