From the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, these rings are carved from the shells of giant clams (Tridacna gigas) and cut into disks and then polished.
The clam shell rings are called 'wenga' or 'weingga' by the Boiken people.
The defining characteristic is the large hole drilled in the center of the shell disk.
They were traditionally used as currency in bride price payments, for buying pigs, and for other exchanges. They are still used today for major payments.
These shells were, and to some extent still are, a significant part of the economic and cultural landscape of Papua New Guinea.
The saying "how much did you shell out for that?" came from when people used shells as money! They are very similar to the conus currency shells also once used in the area.
1 ⅜" - 2 ⅞" with the depths between ⅛" - ¼".
