Kissi Iron Penny Currency

A fine, ropey twist at one end gives way to a flat, ruddy blade.

This iron penny currency is Kissi, from Sierra Leone, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. The Kissi penny is a thin iron rod with a flattened end and a twisted body, and it was forged by blacksmiths who held an important place in the community. Slender bar in a reddish, dusty brown, tightly twisted for the first third and flatter beyond. A small rounded head caps the left, and the right ends in a short, pointed flare. It is 2.75 inches wide and 17.25 high.

Thin, tidy, and plainly proud of its twist.