H x W x D: 44.1 x 4.1 x 1.9 cm (17 3/8 x 1 5/8 x 3/4 in.)
Type:
Sculpture
Geography:
Liberia
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Date:
Late 19th-early 20th century
Label Text:
These long, thin iron rods, usually between 12 and 15 inches long, were traded throughout Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. With the exception of Guinea, kissi pennies were still in use in the 1970s. The ends were flattened, with one of the ends shaped like a wing, and the wires were often bundled and twisted together to create higher values. Perhaps because of the symbolism associated with the smelting and forging of iron, kissi pennies were called "the coins with soul," and if a penny was broken, it could not circulate until repaired by a blacksmith, who would restore its "soul."
Description:
Six thin, twisted iron rods, known as kissi pennies. The ends are hammered flat, with one end being more rounded and the other pointed, creating a "T."
Provenance:
Mrs. Theodore Becker, Bethesda, Maryland, -- to 1966
Exhibition History:
Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 4, 2017-ongoing
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
