Mbole Copper Anklet Currency

Green creeps in at the opening, like moss at a doorway.

Mbole makers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, produced this copper anklet currency in the 20th century. Such rings are commonly linked to wealth, bridewealth and prestige in the region. Here the thick crescent is olive gray over most of its surface, with a faint crosshatch of tiny tool marks. Bright green verdigris gathers around the slot, and the cut ends splay slightly outward. The inside shows a lighter, coppery tone beneath the patina.

About 8 inches by 5. A piece that has aged exactly as it pleased.