That is so cool. What is it's value and what time period was it used in ? What country is that from ?
A Katanga cross, also known as a handa in some local languages, is a cast copper cross (or rarely an H) that was previously used as currency in parts of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the 19th to 20th centuries, although its use for other purposes has been witnessed since the 13th century, and especially from the 16th century with the arrival of Portuguese explorers. During its period of validity, the Katanga cross underwent a change of value from being owned by tribal chiefs and leaders, who used them primarily for large transactions or rituals, to a more widespread use for purchasing perishable goods, although its main and longest use was to bind marriages. The ingots were deemed appropriate for the establishment of marriages because copper did not lose its value and could be returned to declare a divorce. The constancy of its value and the appreciation of non-ferrous metals in Congo lead to the cross' widespread use in rituals and in royal treasures. In what is now the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one cross equaled ten kilograms of flour, five crosses bought an armful of quality fabric or four fowls, and ten of the items equaled a gun, while in the region of Kasai, one cross was enough to buy five fowl, two lengths of quality fabric, three or four kilograms of rubber, or six axes; four to six could be traded for a female goat. Beyond these territories the value was much more diverse. The Babengele of the Lualaba region could transform a cross into a manilla equal in value to a female goat. Their neighbors, the Bakusu, sold female goats for two crosses. The price for a Basonge wife was equal to fourteen large crosses, a goat, gun, and a slave, giving a total of about 100 crosses or 400 francs.
Thanks for that input. Amazing what these were used for and traded for. I wonder what 12 rolls of toilet paper gets you these days ? The large bottle of hand sanitizer ? Have a great day.
The young thieves were caught, put on trial and put in prison in Feb. of this year - the coin was apparently broken up, melted down and the gold sold to unknown persons: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/berlin-coin-theft-1783515
This is medal, not a token, but it is one of the largest items I have. This is the medal in copper that the U.S. Congress awarded to Zachary Taylor for his service in the 1848 Mexican War. The Congress voted for an equally large medal to be awarded to Winfield Scott. Both medals that went to the generals were in sold gold. Both of these medals are 19th century strikes with the mohogany finish. Here is example of the medal that the Congress awarded to Winfield Scott.
2009 Guernsey 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing - £10 Face Value, Diameter 65mm, Thickness 4.5mm, Weight 5oz of 0.925 Sterling Silver, limited edition of 450. Also it's smaller brother, 38mm diameter, weight 31.4 grams.
Although not a coin, an interesting cast aluminium uniface copy of a George V obverse, 14 inches diameter.