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THREE EXAMPLES OF WEST AFRICAN MANILLA CURRENCY. Manillas are a diverse group of iron, copper, and brass forms of African currency. Origin of the term manilla has been attributed to manilho or manillio, said to refer to bracelet in Portuguese and Spanish. Manillas have semi-circular C-shapes, U- or elongated U-shapes, as well as ring and coiled forms. The majority of manillas used in Africa were of European origin, but some were also produced by Africans, especially in the Congo. The major European sources of manillas were the Portuguese, the English who brought Birmingham manillas, the French who brought ?popo? manillas cast in Nantes, and the Dutch with manillas made in Amsterdam. Larger manillas were classified by the British and other Europeans according to size and weight as King, Queen, and Prince manillas. Manillas were accepted by Africans in trade for a vast variety of goods which Europeans shipped back to their countries, including slaves. Manillas were also used as currency by Africans in major transactions such as bride price, as prestige items (often placed in tombs), and as a store of wealth. This was especially true for ?King? and ?Queen? manillas which frequently were decorated with engraved designs, inscriptions, or the owner?s name and hidden or buried to protect them. Each on custom base. (A) British C-form ?okpoho? manilla from Birmingham with flared feet. Late 18th century. Exported to Calabar region of Nigeria. Copper alloy. Width 3.5in. Weight 5.2oz.(B) Extended U-form ?Prince? manilla with faceted cross-section and faceted, square feet. Exported to Congo from Belgium in the 18th century. Copper. Width 7.5in. Weight 2lb. (C) ?King? extended U-form manilla with quadrilateral cross-section. Spiral designs along 3 of the 4 edges. One surface has an inscription or name engraved in capital English letters. Imported from Britain in the 18th century and excavated from a stash of manillas in central Nigeria. Square faced feet. Width 13.5in. Weight 11lb.
