RING MONEY. At an early stage of society, prior to the invention of coinage, but after the inconveniences of direct barter had been discovered, the precious metals, formed into rings, were used as a medium of exchange; these same rings being also ser viceable in some cases as personal ornaments. The use of ring money atnorig the Egyp thins is proved by fepresentations of gold and silver money in their paintings, an instance of which is to be seen in one of the grottoes in the hill of Shek Aba at Quorneh, which bears the cartonche of Amunoph II. inscribed on its walls. The gold or silver rings were formed of a wire or bar of metal bent into a circle, but not quite united at the extremities, so that it could be easily made into a chain, from which portions could be detached at pleasure. It seems probable that the individual loops were not adjusted to a particular weight, but that each bundle of loops amounted in the aggregate to a par ticular weight. A metallic currency of this kind seems to be alluded to in the incident in the book of Genesis, of the Hebrew patriarchs finding their money "in full weight" at the mouth of their sacks. Ring money, both of gold and silver, similar to what is represented in the Egyptian paintings, was brought by Mr. Bonomi from Nubia. Some of the silver rings had been worn as bracelets, and were ornamented with engraved work. This kind of currency has probably never gone out of use in some parts of Africa since the remote period when it was employed in paying the exactions of the Pharaohs. Ring money for African traders is regularly manufactured at Birming ham of copper, or an alloy of copper and iron, and known under the name of " villas." The ring' money of the east found its way at an early period to western Europe, the British islands. In Sweden and Norway its use seems to have continued
down to the 12th c., or even later. A Norse law made about the year 1220 alludes to an established ring money, of which each ring was of a definite weight. The medimval ring money had so far advanced beyond the Egyptian as to have each ring adjusted to a special weight, for which it might pass without weighing. Cmsar mentions gold and iron rings as used in Gaul and Britain for money; and gold and silver, and occasionally brass, ring money has been dug up in ninny parts of Britain, consisting of bars of metal bent in a circular shape; the ends in what seem to be the older specimens are left plain; in those of later times they are flattened and ornamented. One example, found in one of the Weems, or subterranean dwellings of the island of Shapinshay in Orkney, is com posed of three bars of gold twisted together like a cord. A remarkable silver chain of 33 rings, weighing above 93 ounces, was dug up in 1805 near Inverness, in the course of the excavations for the Caledonian canal, and is now in the museum of the Scottish anti queries. Some of the larger specimens of gold ring money are very highly decorated. The gold torque worn round the neck of the Gallic warriors, weighing sometimes as much as four pounds, besides being a personal ornament, was adjusted to a certain weight as money.
Among the various modifications of ring money in use in different countries, may be mentioned the silver fish-hook money of Ceylon, mentioned by Tavernier, of the form of a flat wire bent into a hook, and issued as late as 1659. Specimens of it have lately been dug up.