Yoruba Copper Torque Currency

Nobody ever lost this in a coat pocket.

This torque currency is Yoruba, from Nigeria in West Africa, 20th century, made of copper alloy. In parts of West Africa, heavy metal rings of this general kind served as stores of wealth and units of exchange, paying for goods and, in some places, major social obligations. The broad crescent has a ridged profile and a rough, crusted surface in brown and green, with bits of copper red showing through. Each end narrows past a flat disk to a curved point. It is displayed on a black metal stand. Just over thirteen inches in diameter and 3.25 deep.

Making change must have been an event.