Zong currency
iron
20.5" tall, 8.5" wide
includes magnetic mount
from the Alan Helms collection, Boston, MA
ex private NYC collection

$750


"The zong is more of a unit of account than a object of exchange by itself. Mezong is a packet of 10 zong held
together by fiber. It is also a store of value. This iron spearhead was used as money. There is an old
zong used
before the coming of whites and the new
zong (mandjong) the whites brought."

From "An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money" by Charles J. Opitz.
For additional detail, click on any photo below to see the higher resolution version of the image.
For additional detail, click on any photo below to see the higher resolution version of the image.