40153

Giant Liganda Spearheads, Both Primary Denominations

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Giant Liganda Spearheads, Both Primary Denominations

Lot: 40153
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Title: Giant Liganda Spearheads, Both Primary Denominations
Description: In Central Africa, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Congo blacksmiths made giant spearheads, some taller than a man. These were used as money by the Lokele, Turumbu, Budja, Topoke, and neighboring peoples. This currency was called liganda or ngbele. The longer it was, the more valuable. There were two or three denominations: the huge doa, about 5’ 8” to 6’ 6” high by about 15” wide; the dihunga, approximately 5’ by 9”, of which three were roughly equal to one doa; and perhaps an intermediate size. This impressive currency had high purchasing power: between 1907 and 1922, 30 doa could buy a male slave.
This lot contains one of each principal denomination of liganda: the doa is 5' 9-1/4" long, and the dihunga is 4' 11-1/4" long. See Opitz, pp. 202-03.
Low Estimate: 200
High Estimate: 400
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