Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money
(Exhibition Home)
African Money
Introduction
Aksumite Coinage - Salt - Cowrie Shells - Iron and Copper - Ring Money
Iron and Copper

Iron and copper can both be worked at relatively low temperatures. Many cultures have used these metals as payment, with each culture choosing a distinctive form that usually indicates the high quality of the metal. In addition, considerable skill was required to fashion many of these objects-an aspect which made them more useful as a desirable form of payment.
So-called "pennies" of the Kissi tribe, Liberia (early 20th century). The twisted and hammered iron rods with distinctive ends show that the metal can be worked in four different ways and is, therefore, of high quality. These rods circulated interchangeably with European forms of money.
Iron "hoe" money of the Makai tribe, Cameroon (early 20th century). African money frequently came in shapes reminiscent of the tools and weapons into which it could be made.
Miniature iron axes of the Fang tribe, Gabon (early 20th century). Thousands of these "axes" were paid by husbands to the families of their brides.
0000.999.75840
Copper Katanga cross, Congo River Basin (early 20th century). The Congo region is very rich in copper and these crosses, made in sand molds, circulated as money. Crosses of this type are known from the 13th century AD.
1939.72.2