Idang manilla coiled currency, Cross River area, Nigeria
copper
11.5" long, 4" wide
from the Alan Helms collection, Boston, MA
ex private NYC collection
$1200
"The word "manilla" means bracelet. There are many types of manillas, including the standing manilla and coiled
manilla. Coiled manillas were worn on the arms and sometimes the legs and were made of thin or heavy-gauge
copper or brass wire that was formed in the shape of a coil or spring. Some have bulbous ends.
The cross section on this particular example is highly unusual because instead of being flattened, it is in the
shape of a "V".
For additional examples and information on this type of currency, see pages 209-215 of "An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money" by
Charles J. Opitz.
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