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Pre-columbian "Coins"
& Metal Discs |
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The
pre-Columbian peoples of Ancient America created a wide array of metallic
discs for ornamental purposes. However, although the ancient Americans had
gold and silver in abundance, they never made coins or evolved a money
economy. They used jade beads, obsidian blades, and even cacao beans as
media of exchange. Never did they mint coins or create a standardized system
of metal money (as far as we know). They did create "coins" and discs
for a range of ornamental purposes, probably as badges of honor or station,
or to denote families or towns. The following are a sampling of these
"coins" or discs from various sources. |
Ancient American Gold
"Coins" & Discs |
Colombian Quimbaya Gold disc pendant |
Colombian Quimbaya
Laminate
Disc Pendant |
Peruvian Viru Gold ornament disc |
Colombian Quimbaya
Laminate
Disc Pendant
click photos
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enlarge |
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Peruvian Viru Gold alloy pendant |
Peruvian Viru Gold ornament disc |
Peruvian Vicus Gold alloy mace head |
Gold and turquoise mosaic
aztec disc |
Peruvian Chavin Hammered gold Pendant
Disc |
Panama Veraguas Pectoral
Disk |
Panama
Sitio Conte Gold Laminate Chest plate Disc |
Panama
Sitio Conte Gold Laminate Demon Breast Plate Disc
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Panama Sitio Conte
Cocle Province
Hammered gold
Disc |
Costa Rica Rain God motif
laminate
pendant |
Costa Rica Human figure motif
laminate
pendant |
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Costa Rica Shaman gold disk laminate
pendent |
Costa Rica Reptile motif gold disk laminate
pendant |
Costa Rica Ornamental gold disk laminate
pendant |
Costa Rica Crab motif gold disk laminate
pendant |
Costa Rica Insect motif
laminate
pendant |
Guatemala - Maya Gold Ornamental Pectoral Disc
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click photos
to
enlarge |
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Peruvian Moche Gold textile Ornamental disc |
Peruvian Moche Gold textile Ornamental disc |
Peruvian Moche Gold textile Ornamental disc |
Peruvian Moche
Disc Pendant with rattles |
Peruvian Moche Gold
Disc with wire clasp pendant
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Peruvian Nasca circular gold laminate
breastplate |
Colombian
Nariño Tumbaga Gold Pectoral Disc |
Colombia Uraba Gold Laminate Pectoral |
Colombian Tairona Gold Pectoral
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Bolivian Tiwanaku Gold disc pendant |
Ecuador Carchi Gold
Disc pendant |
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Ancient American Silver
"Coins" & Discs |
Peruvian Chimú Disk,
14th–15th century;
Silver |
Peruvian Chimu
Pectoral/Plate/Plaque |
Peruvian Chimú Disk,
14th–15th century; Silver; Diam. 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm) |
Peruvian Vicus Silver alloy mace club |
Ancient American Bronze
"Coins" & Discs |
Argentina Belen Culture Bronze disc |
Argentina Belen Bronze Disc with four
anthropomorphic faces. Bronze. Catamarca. |
Argentina Belen Culture Bronze disc |
Argentina
Santa Maria
Bronze Disc |
Argentina Aguada Bronze Disc
Known as the "Disco de
Lafone Quevedo" from Andalgalá. |
Argentina Aguada Bronze Disc/Plaque |
Argentina Aguada Bronze Disc |
Argentina Aguada Bronze Disc/Plaque |
Argentina Aguada Bronze Plaque
Known as "Placa Bercheni" |
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