Many communities have designed money in the shape of objects that are important to them, such as tools and weapons. They usually do not make them sharp, though. They were only supposed to be used to make payments.
This tall blade was used by a Turumbu (too-ROOM-boo) community of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for wedding gifts and to purchase important items, such as a canoe. It is 5 feet, 7 inches tall.
Date Made: 19th century
Place Made: Congo
See more items in: Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
Exhibition: Really BIG Money
Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History
Credit Line: Elvira Clain-Stefanelli
Data Source: National Museum of American History
Id Number: 1992.0406.0001Catalog Number: 1992.0406.0001Accession Number: 1992.0406Catalog Number: 92.406.01
Object Name: bladespearhead
Physical Description: iron (overall material)Measurements: average spatial: 67 in x 13 in x 2 cm; 170.18 cm x 33.02 cm x 25/32 in
Metadata Usage: CC0
Guid: https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-feb5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Record Id: nmah_1142519
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