Angola, Quiranda de Dongo Shell Disc Money (Achatina Money)

This money-string went under the wonderful name "quiranda de dongo" in West Africa. It consists of finely polished slices of shells of the giant African land snail Achatina and is therefore also known as achatina money. Quiranda de dongo were principally used in West Africa to pay bride-prices or to pay fines and taxes. The Portuguese colonial administration accepted tax payments in the form of quiranda de dongo into the second half of the 19th century.