Post Date: 6 March 2018
African Currency – MUMUYE / CHAMBA – Nigeria
Iron. Early 20th century. Cm. 55,0 high x 17,0 width (21.65 x 6.69 Inches); grams 1.356,0 (47.83 oz.).
The Mumuye and the Chamba are small ethnic groups on the borders of eastern Nigeria.
This currency is made of an iron staff from which parts a sheaf of single, sinuos snake shaped ramifications, The structure, worked as a heat-soldered whole, represents a tree.
For similar examples and more informations see:
- “The Perfect Form”, by Roberto Ballarini, page 155;
- “African Currency”, by Adolfo Bartolomucci, page 44.