Kissi Iron Penny Currency

Hammer, twist, repeat. A smith in Sierra Leone did it until the shaft came out crisp and even.

Nearly eleven inches of Kissi iron, 20th century. Bars like this were the currency of the Kissi and their neighbors, traded, and especially paid at marriages. One end splays into a sizable, irregular paddle. The other ends in a small crossbar with a hooked tip. The patina is dark gray-brown, silvery where the iron has worn.

Hand-made character, in a very small space. Cluster it with others if you like.