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<p>[QUOTE="2manybooks, post: 10069039, member: 8267"]A good find. Similar, but also different. The Numismatics example is shaped from a round rod (or cast in that form), and has a finer finish. To my eye, the inscribed designs do not look similar. I assume the Numismatics attribution of Benin is where it was collected. They do not specify if it was made there or elsewhere. It is interesting that the weight is almost exactly 280gm. Such precise numbers often indicate an amount of standardization. </p><p><br /></p><p>Do you have a method of weighing yours? </p><p><br /></p><p>Yours appears to be square, rather than round in cross section. This would indicate a different metal stock, and perhaps a different method of fabrication, and thus possibly a different source.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have been trying to find a close comparison, without luck so far. Here are 4 pages of results from the British Museum, using different combinations of search terms (but all from Africa) -</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=copper&keyword=currency&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=copper&keyword=currency&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=copper&keyword=currency&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=currency&keyword=bronze&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=currency&keyword=bronze&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=currency&keyword=bronze&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bronze&keyword=bracelet&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bronze&keyword=bracelet&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top" rel="nofollow">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bronze&keyword=bracelet&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bracelet&keyword=copper&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bracelet&keyword=copper&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top" rel="nofollow">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bracelet&keyword=copper&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Much depends on how you want to define the term "currency". In the strict sense it involves some measure of standardization, such as by composition, size, or weight - a way of objectively comparing value. This is opposed to a simple "medium of exchange", which can facilitate negotiated bartering.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_of_exchange" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_of_exchange" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_of_exchange</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="2manybooks, post: 10069039, member: 8267"]A good find. Similar, but also different. The Numismatics example is shaped from a round rod (or cast in that form), and has a finer finish. To my eye, the inscribed designs do not look similar. I assume the Numismatics attribution of Benin is where it was collected. They do not specify if it was made there or elsewhere. It is interesting that the weight is almost exactly 280gm. Such precise numbers often indicate an amount of standardization. Do you have a method of weighing yours? Yours appears to be square, rather than round in cross section. This would indicate a different metal stock, and perhaps a different method of fabrication, and thus possibly a different source. I have been trying to find a close comparison, without luck so far. Here are 4 pages of results from the British Museum, using different combinations of search terms (but all from Africa) - [URL]https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=copper&keyword=currency&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1[/URL] [URL]https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=currency&keyword=bronze&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=1[/URL] [URL]https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bronze&keyword=bracelet&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top[/URL] [URL]https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=bracelet&keyword=copper&place=Africa&view=grid&sort=object_name__asc&page=2#page-top[/URL] Much depends on how you want to define the term "currency". In the strict sense it involves some measure of standardization, such as by composition, size, or weight - a way of objectively comparing value. This is opposed to a simple "medium of exchange", which can facilitate negotiated bartering. [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_of_exchange[/URL] [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency[/URL][/QUOTE]
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