This object is a manilla, a traditional form of metal currency used widely in West Africa for centuries. Typically made of bronze, copper, or brass, manillas are recognizable by their open bracelet shape with flared ends. They were in circulation from roughly the 15th century into the early 20th century, particularly in regions that are now Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Cameroon. Manillas functioned as a medium of exchange, with different sizes and weights representing different values, and were also used in social transactions such as bride wealth, ceremonial exchanges, and displays of status.

Beyond their economic role, manillas held deep cultural significance and were often worn as jewelry or passed down as family wealth. From the late 1400s onward, European traders mass-produced manillas for trade with African societies, integrating them into global trade networks. In the early 20th century, colonial authorities withdrew and melted down vast numbers of manillas to enforce European monetary systems, making surviving examples important historical artifacts today that reflect both African economic traditions and the complex history of early global trade.

This excellent manilla measures:
8 x 8 1/2 x 1 1/2" (20 x 21.6 x 3.8 cm) and weighs 10 1/2 lbs. (4.8 kg)