Object Details
- Description
- Kissi pennies are made from iron and take their name from the Kissi people of modern-day Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. It is believed that the shape was intended to display the quality of the iron. The shape shows that the iron can be twisted, hammered, sharpened into a blade, and fashioned into points. Kissi pennies were primarily used in West Africa in the first half of the twentieth century. They could be exchanged for coins and notes circulating in the region. Individual Kissi pennies could be used to make small purchases, but were typically arranged in bundles of 20 for larger payments. In the early twentieth century, a cow could be purchased for 30-40 bundles.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- 20th century
- Credit Line
- The Chase Manhattan Bank
- Physical Description
- iron (overall material)
- black (overall color)
- brown (overall color)
- wrought, hammered, and shaped (overall production method/technique)
- Measurements
- overall: 45.75 mm x 230 mm; 1 13/16 in x 9 1/16 in
- Object Name
- Kissi Penny
- alternative currency
- Other Terms
- Kissi Penny; Africa; Liberia, Sierra Leone
