Congolese Handa or Cross Currency, Based

Quietly, a pale green-grey X with lumpy arms, balancing on a slim black rod.

This handa or cross currency is from Kasai, Katanga, Kasai River, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is copper. Several forms of metal currency circulated in Central Africa before the colonial period, and the X shaped or cross shaped handa is generally taken to be among them. Displayed plainly, a flat X-shaped piece with long, rounded arms, its surface mottled grey-green with a pitted, textured finish. Small clips hold it onto a slender black stem set in a square black base. It is 6.25 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 10 high.

Quiet, crusty and very good at the letter X.