Manilla West Africa; Okpoho type

These are trade manillas, produced by European countries to facilitate trade with Western Africa, which later became the main currency of the slave trade. These manillas were also popular in local markets, being used as a currency amongst the people. Varieties exist based on who produced these manillas and who they gave them to, with five primary types.

In Europe, these manillas were produced in Portugal, the Netherlands, England (Birmingham), and France (Nantes). Currently, there is no way to distinguish the Dutch types from those of the other countries, which are known for producing the following types:
- Mkporo type: Portugal (and likely also the netherlands)
- Popo type: France
- Nkobnkob type: England (early type; and likely also the netherlands)
- Onoudu type: England (middle type)
- Okpoho type: England (late type)

These trade manillas were often made of brass, which was prefered over copper, and was also cheaper and easier to cast than copper. While these circulated late, in 1948, Britain began "operation manilla" in their territories to replace these manillas with coins. And in 1949, they ceased to be legal tender.

For a more comprehensive history, as well as information and pictures, please see this page.

It is important to note that Africans also produced their own manillas, which come in many, many varieties--and some with rather elaborate designs, and which were produced mainly in copper. However, these manillas are not known to have circulated, and were instead used in ceremonial or to show wealth. For a comprehensive list on those types, please see this page.

For the trade manillas, the different types are most easily differenciated with their approximate dimensions (with diameter being width):
- Mkporo type: 90-100mm; 220-300g
- Popo type: 79-85mm; 120-140g (often easy to differenciate because of low flare)
- Nkobnkob type: 75-85mm; 145-220g
- Onoudu type: 65-71mm; 80-120g
- Okpoho type: 57-62mm; 65-85g (most common type)