African Currency – LIBINZA – DR Congo

The piece is 12,2 width x 40,1 high (4.80″ x 15.78″). Gr. 389,0 (13.72 oz.).

Iron currency shaped like knife blade. Other name: Mpata Mine.

In 1979 Van Leynseele wrote “The Libinza monetary system was composed of for iron blades: 1. Nhwa – 2. Bokama – 3. Shingeme – 4. Munscia. Each of these four, in increasing order, is worth twice the previous one. A proportion of one to two among different monetary units is frequent. All these blades are shaped like long isosceles triangle with curved lines especially ad the ends”.

For a similar example see:

• “The Perfect Form”, by Roberto Ballarini, page 340.
• “African Currency”, by Adolfo Bartolomucci, page 88.