Katanga Cross: Difference between revisions
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==Original value== |
==Original value== |
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A Katanga Cross would buy about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of flour, five or six chickens or six axes. Two would buy a gun. |
A Katanga Cross would buy about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of flour, five or six chickens or six axes. Two would buy a gun. While at least 12 was needed to buy a night with a prostitute. |
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In 1961, Katanga (which had declared its independence from The Congo) issued its own coins. As a homage to its heritage, the coins depicted the Katanga Cross. (Katanga was forcibly reunited with The Congo in 1963.) |
In 1961, Katanga (which had declared its independence from The Congo) issued its own coins. As a homage to its heritage, the coins depicted the Katanga Cross. (Katanga was forcibly reunited with The Congo in 1963.) |
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Revision as of 16:41, 19 August 2009
A Katanga Cross, also called handa, is cast copper cross, of varying sizes but typically about 20 cm (8 inches) across, and weighing about 1 kilograms (2 pounds). They were used as a form of currency in parts of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Their name derives from Katanga, a rich copper mining region in the south-eastern portion of the country.[1]
These X-shaped ingots were cast by local coppersmiths. They were cast by pouring molten copper into sand molds.
Original value
A Katanga Cross would buy about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of flour, five or six chickens or six axes. Two would buy a gun. While at least 12 was needed to buy a night with a prostitute.
In 1961, Katanga (which had declared its independence from The Congo) issued its own coins. As a homage to its heritage, the coins depicted the Katanga Cross. (Katanga was forcibly reunited with The Congo in 1963.)
References
See also
 | This money or currency-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Democratic Republic of the Congo-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |