Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Birmingham Manilla
伯明罕馬尼拉幣
Item number: A54
Year: AD 1600-1948
Material: brass
Size: 58.43 x 52.76 / 59.69 x 54.33 mm
Weight: 75.65 / 80.24 g
Provenance: Tribal Art Africa 2023
The shown objects are Birmingham Manillas, a form of currency with origins in West Africa. These decorative bracelets circulated and were used throughout various regions in Africa, particularly during the era of the Atlantic slave trade.
The name “Manilla” may derive from the Spanish word “mano,” meaning hand, or the Portuguese term for bracelet, “manilha,” implying that this form of currency was frequently worn on the wrist.
Manillas are typically crafted from materials such as brass, silver, copper, or other metals, adorned with various patterns that may symbolise social status, wealth, religious beliefs, and other aspects. In Africa, Manillas serve both as a form of currency and as socially significant and symbolic items used in ceremonies such as weddings and important rituals. During the Atlantic slave trade, Manillas emerged as a crucial commodity in the trade between Europe and Africa, particularly playing a pivotal role in the slave trade.
In AD 1856, British consul Fernando Po documented five types of Manilla currency in a report, categorising them based on criteria such as dimensions, appearance, and place of origin. The shown item falls under the classification of “Birmingham Manilla,” distinctive features such as a widened,flattened end and open, thin ring.