Manilla ring, copper
This copper ring with disc-shaped terminations is a so-called manilla, a type of currency. The name manilla derives from Latin or Spanish, ‘manus’ (hand) or ‘monile’ (neck ring). Manillas come in different sizes, shapes and weights. The object in the display case is of a later type and can probably be dated to the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century.
Manillas played a major role in the transatlantic slave trade. They were mass-produced in England and other European countries, and then transported to West Africa to be traded for slaves. Almost all slaves were taken to America to work on plantations. In the West African colonies, manillas continued to be used even after the slave trade ended. They were legal tender in Nigeria until 1949, alongside the British pound.
