Spondulicks. A slang name for money, more particularly for paper money, as "I have
spondulicks," meaning money. The name was frequently used in referring to greenbacks (United
States notes) when they were the chief circulating medium. The name is said originally to have
been applied to the cowry-shells used as money on the west coast of Africa. There is a specimen
of cowry-shell money in the Mint at Philadelphia which was obtained from Spondula, Africa, and on
it has been conferred the nickname spondulick.