English: This is shell money, used in some islands of Papua New Guinea. Shell money like this is called diwara, tambu or tabu. Sometimes, people wear shell money as necklaces or earrings.

Object description: This shell money is from the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. It is called diwara. It features a series of Nassarius shells, threaded on to pieces of cane. The back of the shell has been removed so it can easily be threaded onto the cane. Each shell is about 9mm long. The cane has been cut to various lengths to indicate different values. History:

Each place in Papua New Guinea has a different type of traditional money, usually made of different types of shells. Today, shell money is most often exchanged on special occasions, like weddings or funerals. In East New Britain, shell money is also used at markets to buy fresh food. Depending on what is being paid for, people may use bank currency as well as shell money.