overall: 5.6 cm x 5.7 cm x 1.75 cm; 2 7/32 in x 2 1/4 in x 11/16 in
Object Name:
alternative currency
Other Terms:
nontraditional money; Africa; West Africa
Place made:
Africa
Date made:
19th century
Description:
Manillas were regularly used in exchange in West Africa, especially along the coast of modern-day Nigeria, from at least the fifteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Cast from various metals, including copper, brass, and iron, they are crescent-shaped and resemble an open bracelet. They were produced by Portuguese, British, Dutch, and French merchants specifically for trade in West Africa. Manillas were used in everyday purchases at markets. They were also a central currency of the transatlantic slave trade.
