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African “metal bar money”

Roland R. writes: I have a “Gizzie Penny” from West Africa, apparently used in the late 1800’s. It is a foot long piece of twisted iron with a “T” at one end and a flat US quarter size other end. I got it a couple of decades ago, but know little about it. Any help? 

Africa is well know for its use of primitive money. West Africa is a large piece of Real Estate and includes Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Nigeria and Gambia. I haven’t heard of a “Gizzie Penny” but from as early as the 15th century there were numerous types of metal bars used as money in this area.

For example the Portuguese introduced Manilla, a copper horse-shoe shaped bracelet, about 3 oz in weight, about the time that Columbus was exploring the New World. They became a medium of exchange for all kinds of local products such as pepper, ivory tusks, palm oil and cotton cloth.


There is a broad collector market for “Odd and Curious” money so your item would find a fairly ready market. You need to identify the item as to date, specific origin, and state of preservation in order to be able to sell it.

Dec 14, 2013coindoc
What is the current US$ value equivalent to a 1580s shilling?1812 Austria One Kreutzer
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