Harrie,
 
That is a really difficult question.  Today, the money cowries (Cypraea
moneta and Cypraea annulus) are worth very little indeed.  They are both
very common and even to a shell collector they are usually worth less
than $1.00.  From the book by Mary Saul, "Shells: An Illustrated Guide
to a Timeless and Fascinating World," the following is reported about
the money cowries.  Their use as currency (cowries, not necessarily C.
moneta and C. annulus) probably started in China in 2000 B.C.  They were
brought from India and were used as currency on and off until the 14th
century.  The use of money cowries that is probably most famous is in
the Maldives, and these were C. moneta.  Arab traders spread the use of
these small shells as money throughout the Indian Ocean and quite a bit
of the Pacific.  Later, British and Portuguese ships carried tons of
cowries for trade in the Pacific.  By the 16th century some 100 million
shells were exported into west Africa each year.  By the 18th century
that number had risen to 400 million.  In the middle of the 19th century
traders began using C. annulus which was easier to obtain and the
shell's value quickly fell to almost nothing.  So what was the value?
Well, in the 14th century when they first appeared in use in Africa, two
money cowries would buy a wife in Uganda.  Within 50 years it would take
2500 to buy a cow and 10,000 to buy a wife.  This amount rose to 100,000
for a wife within a short time and the value of the shell continued to
drop.  They are now sold for 10 cents and up, and not really used as
currency.  So at one time you could say each cowrie was worth hundreds
of dollars (today's dollars) in certain parts of the world (the further
away from the source of the cowrie the higher the value) and that value
has steadily decreased until they are worth maybe 10 cents at the
present.  Then as now, value was highest for fresh, shiny specimens.
Dull, beach worn shells were worthless.
 
Now, your job, if you accept it, Mr. Phelps, is to explain that to your
first graders!!
 
Good luck,
 
Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA
 
Harriette K. Jacobs wrote:
>
> Does anyone know the comparable U.S. monetary value of the Money Cowrie?  I
> need to tell about 25 first graders on Friday - they will want to know how
> much they're worth, etc.  Thanks a bunch!!
>
> Harrie
> Snellville, Georgia