Is This A Manilla? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,507
inglesina New Member United Kingdom 5 Posts	Posted 09/14/2015 06:56 am I picked up this item at a charity shop. If it is a manilla I will probably give it to a museum if they want it as I'm uneasy about its history. It appears to be made of bronze, it weighs 22 ounces and doesn't have an opening which seems odd. About 3 inches across, central hole about 1.5 inches Report this Post to the Staff

Petrus Pillar of the Community Belgium 2895 Posts	Posted 09/14/2015 07:23 am Very nice 'thing', but no idea what it was used for! Report this Post to the Staff
inglesina New Member United Kingdom 5 Posts	Posted 09/14/2015 07:47 am Thanks for the welcome Petrus As I understand it; manillas were currency strongly linked to the slave trade in West Africa, many were even made in Europe.This reminds me strongly of some African ones I've seen on the internet but a couple of things are odd about it. For one it's heavily twisted, secondly it would need to open to be worn, and there isn't an opening. Looks very similar to a locking manilla I saw but I've lost the link. Report this Post to the Staff
dohcollector Valued Member Belgium 464 Posts	Posted 09/14/2015 12:14 pm never seen that before, looks realy facinating so I looked it up on the net and that seems quite intresting to collect :) but I see a clear gap does that mean you can open it ? possible hinges? nway just asking first time for me btw welcome I'm quite new myself Edited by dohcollector 09/14/2015 12:15 pm Report this Post to the Staff
inglesina New Member United Kingdom 5 Posts	Posted 09/14/2015 1:25 pm I found these pictures of lockable manillas, mine is very similar to a couple but lacks the mechanism. http://www.he-artefakte.de/Afrika/E...nillenE.html Report this Post to the Staff
alganbagerap Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2490 Posts	Posted 09/15/2015 08:11 am The manila was originally a way of carrying a tradeable commodity, bronze or brass, in a society that had no use for currency. Very much like the Celtic "Ring Money". The supposed association with slavery came much later, with the idea that slaves were purchased with such items. It happened sure, but the more usual trade goods were muskets and shot. Report this Post to the Staff
inglesina New Member United Kingdom 5 Posts	Posted 09/15/2015 10:24 am Do you think this is one then Alganbagerap? Report this Post to the Staff
alganbagerap Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2490 Posts	Posted 09/15/2015 5:04 pm I think that it is probably meant to be carried on the wrist, how wide is the opening? As to geography, my leaning is towards Burma/Laos maybe C19th. Report this Post to the Staff
inglesina New Member United Kingdom 5 Posts	Posted 09/16/2015 1:26 pm It has a central hole about 4 cm across, and weighs 624 grams/22 ounces. Report this Post to the Staff
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