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Stephen Album Rare Coins
Auction 42  20-23 Jan 2022
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Lot 1638

Starting price: 60 USD
Price realized: 80 USD
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AFRICA: iron ring (321g), Opitz p.276 (plate example), consisting of a 75 x 65 x 50mm ring mounted with spiked wings, a very old example from East Africa, believed to be used as both weapon and money, somewhat encrusted, Fine, ex Charles Opitz Collection. Opitz divides African metal currencies into 3 rough catergories based on their utility. The first category includes objects where the distinction between their use as tools and use as money is minor. The second category includes those that retain their original shape, but are made of a finer, perhaps less practical material. Objects in the last category have completely lost their shape as practical tools and instead have a standardized weight and size, and are therefore strictly a currency. As metal was a scarce commodity in Africa before the 20th century, all three categories were considered extremely valuable and widely used in exchanges.

Estimate: 75-100 USD
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