Ingot currency piece

Mbole Tribe

Dem. Rep. of Congo

$1800

Weighing close to fifteen pounds, this rare old piece was once forged from a collection of copper ankle currency.  When the owner was ready, he could commission new pieces of metal currency to be made from the copper of the inget.  In this way, an ingot acted almost as a savings account for its owner.

Copper production constituted a smaller share of metalworking and was reserved for ornamentation and prestige objects.  Jewelery and currency tokens were forged from ingots such as this, making it an incredible piece to round out a currency collection - or to begin one!