Lot 5806
Sale 95 · Important Australian & World Coins, Medals & Banknotes, The Robb Family Collection
Images
Description
Katanga, Katanga cross, issue of the Katanga tribe in Africa, also known as Baluba cross, 12.5 cms across, (Opitz [p.124], Quiggin [p.77], Sigler [p.17]). Very fine.
Ex Bramwell C. Jellett Collection. Made by pouring copper into moulds made in sand. The Katanga cross is a scarce and unusual piece of primitive money. It is large, normally about 12-18 cms across. It was used in parts of what is now Zaire up to the early 20th century. One would buy about 22 pounds of flour or five or six chickens. Two would buy a gun or a female slave for five to ten crosses. A male slave in 1907 was worth three to five crosses.
- Estimate
- $120
- Result Status
- Sold
- Prices Realised
- $150