Kissi Iron Penny Currency, Based

A twisted shaft with a little winged foot, perched on a black block.

This penny currency on a base is Kissi, from Sierra Leone, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is iron. The Kissi people live in a region that spans parts of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, and they are known for their farming and ironwork. A tall dark rod with a visible spiral twist in its upper half and a small ragged flat tip at the top. The bottom flares into a tiny winged shape just above the black rectangular stand. A thin band marks the middle. It is 3.5 inches wide and 21.4 high.

Elegant and spindly, with a surprising spring in its step.