“The Katanga Cross” 19th Century Katanga Copper Currency

…sourced from Northern Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

*…the following information comes from the National Bank of Belgium website:

As early as the 16th century, the copper was being exported as far as the coast of Angola and from there right up to Europe. In the past, copper extraction and casting was the prerogative of a mysterious guild called “the copper eaters”, members of a sort of secret society, a “bwanga”. They were the only ones who were able to remove the copper ore and work it. Production of this precious metal was surrounded by rituals, professional secrets, traditions and magic.

I encourage you to visit the well written "Katanga Cross" historical rendition on the National Bank of Belgium website.

http://www.nbbmuseum.be/2010/07/katanga.htm