Shelling Out: Traditional Currency from the Collection

March 17, 2026 – March 6, 2027

Money is more than just metal and paper! Explore the Lam Museum’s diverse collection of non-coin currencies from shimmering shells to twisted textiles. Visitors will learn about how cultures imbue rare objects and materials with value to create money, as well as how these many different types of money are gifted, traded, and exchanged. Visitors will also reflect on how value is constructed in their own traditions.

This exhibit is paired with Pocket Change: A Story of Coins through Time.