Yoruba Copper Torque Currency

Dark, heavy and faintly engraved, as though money should also be nice to look at.

This torque currency is Yoruba, from Nigeria in West Africa, 20th century, made of copper alloy. Traders and families used currency rings of this form as stores of value as much as money for daily trade, though scholars differ on the details. The hoop here is nearly black, broad and ridged, with faint incised patterns along the outer band and traces of red and green in the surface. Flat disks collar both ends before the curved points. It stands on a black metal mount. Thirteen inches in diameter and 3.25 deep.

Few bank balances look this good on a shelf.