How could early humans use things like shells as currency if all you had to do to be rich was go pick up more shells?

by HaiMark4108

I understand how Gold can be used as currency because it’s not as easy to acquire or refine.

But cowrie shells were used a currency. Like...why not just go to the beach and get more shells? How is an economy built upon that?

CChippy

There is always more to be said on the subject, but you may be interested in this thread from 3 years ago which covered a particular instance of a shell money economy. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6hjgjc/problems_with_shell_money_eg_cowries/ Note that their use continued into the 20th century so it wasn't just "early humans".