Hoe Money (Jembe), Nigeria
date: label: date made
content: before 1900
notes: label: Description
content: Many west African communities produced metal currency in the shapes of farming tools for specific kinds of exchange, such as ceremonial payments for marriages (bridewealth). They were made from a range of metals including iron, copper, brass, and bronze. While they were not designed for use in agricultural activities, they could be melted down and transformed into functional farming tools, weapons, or ornaments.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place used
content: Nigeria
label: associated place
content: Nigeria
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
label: See more items in
content: West African Currency
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Benjamin Stack, Harvey G. Stack, and Norman Stack
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: NU.77.38.035
label: catalog number
content: 77.38.035
label: accession number
content: 1977.1211
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Spearhead Money
label: Object Name
content: alternative currency
label: Other Terms
content: Spearhead Money; Africa; Nigeria, Lomami Area
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: bronze (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: cast (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: brown (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 11.887 cm x 40.005 cm; 4 11/16 in x 15 3/4 in