The Shang Dynasty is considered as China's earliest dynasty by historians. This is evidenced by the discoveries of major royal tombs and foundations of palaces in AnYang containing huge caches of weapons, bronzewares, shells, jade, bone, and stone artefacts. The predominant system of currencies was cowie - natural shells, cowie imitations in clay, stone, bone, jade, and bronze. Besides cowie and cowie imitations, bronze pieces with inscriptions known as " Ant Nose Money" and "Ghost Face Money" were also circulated as money. Other unusual bronze pieces in the shapes of fish, bridges, and bells, attributed to this period, which were found in large number have made some to believe that these were also circulated as a medium of exchange during the Shang Dynasty.