West- Africa Primitive Money 19th / Early 20th Century Large “King Manilla” (Ceremonial Manilla) - Very Rare

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West Africa – Large “King Manilla” (Ceremonial Manilla) – 19th to Early 20th Century
Description (Opitz-based)

Large and exceptionally heavy open manilla of cast copper alloy, attributed to West Africa and dating to the 19th to early 20th century. This object corresponds to the group of oversized ceremonial manillas classified by Charles J. Opitz as “King Manillas”, representing the highest category within the manilla system.

The manilla is formed as a massive open ring with a thick, rounded cross-section and flared terminal ends. At the crown of the arc, a prominent rectangular projection is present, decorated with finely executed cross-hatched and linear geometric engraving. The remainder of the surface is largely undecorated, showing a deep, stable patina with wear consistent with age and prolonged handling.

According to Opitz, King Manillas were not intended for everyday trade, but functioned as exceptional stores of wealth and prestige objects, often associated with elite ownership, ceremonial exchange, and high-value transactions such as bridewealth or political tribute. Opitz notes that such pieces could represent the value of dozens to hundreds of ordinary manillas, and that distinctions between “King”, “Queen”, and “Prince” manillas are not indigenous but reflect later scholarly classification based primarily on size and mass rather than fixed formal criteria.

The monumental scale, substantial weight, and restricted decorative focus of this example place it securely within the upper tier of ceremonial manillas as defined by Opitz.

Material: cast copper alloy (bronze/brass)
Weight: approx. 1,942 g
Outer diameter: approx. 22 cm
Form: large open ceremonial manilla
Region: West Africa
Period: 19th – early 20th century

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