Copper Ingots (Katanga Crosses)
In Central Africa, especially in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, people used large X-shaped copper ingots called “Katanga crosses” as money. These pieces were cast by hand and valued based on weight and purity.
Katanga crosses were used to buy land, pay fines, or settle major agreements. Their distinctive shape made them instantly recognizable, and they later appeared on regional banknotes as symbols of historical wealth.
