In 1637, wampum became a recognized form of currency in parts of colonial North America, reflecting the complex interactions between indigenous trade systems and European colonial economies. Wampum, made from shell beads, was used not only for trade but also held cultural significance among Native American tribes. This development illustrates the blending of cultures and economic practices during the colonial period, highlighting the importance of indigenous contributions to the evolving economic landscape.

Wampum becoming colonial currency in 1637 appears in colonial chronicles and later historical poetry as a symbol of exchange, contact, and dispossession, influencing poets like Phillis Wheatley and later Native American writers who addressed themes of identity and resistance.