Ring Money Público Deposited
One of the earliest forms of a circulating medium, and which appears to be generally adjusted to a graduated system founded upon a certain weight.
Its antiquity is demonstrated by its occurrence in ancient Egyptian paintings, showing merchants weighing rings in scales, and there is a reference to it in Genesis (xxiv. 22). When the Romans invaded England they found ring money in use; in Ireland it was utilized until the Danish in- vasion, 'and in Scandinavia until the thir- teenth century. In the museum at Stock- holm specimens are exhibited of large spiral rings of gold, which could be opened, closed, and linked into a chain. Some of these specimens weigh from eight hundred to one thousand grammes. A primitive money in Japan consisted of copper rings coated with silver and gold and called Kin Kwan and Gin Kwan according to their composition. See Munro, Coins of Japan. 1904. (p. 5), and conf. Manilla.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)