In Africa seashells are endowed with such a great symbolic meaning and economic value, that up a few decades ago commercial compositions were carried on through the exchange of the Cauri seashell (Cyprea moneta) which was fished in the seas of the Maldive and Laccadive islands, and exchanged for gold.
In Africa la conchiglia ha un grande valore simbolico ed economico tanto che fino a qualche decennio fa le transazioni commerciali avvenivano con la conchiglia cauri (cyprea moneta) pescata nei mari attorno alle Maldive e Laccadive e spesso scambiata contro oro.