Sewant (or siwan) is the black and/or dark purple black shell bead system of the 1600s in Nieuw Nederlandt of what is currently the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland. This fiat currency system was introduced to the English at Plymouth Colony Plantations in 1627. One black Sewant is equal to two white wampum. The sewant is tied to the stiver, denarius of england (penny or d.), ore, daler, real, livre. 20 stiver = 24d or 1 stiver = 1.2d.
