File:Post-medieval or modern African manilla (FindID 388745).jpg

English: A complete cast copper alloy ‘manilla’ with probable silvering, dating to the Post Medieval/ Modern period, between AD c. 1550 – 1945 (length: 57.5mm; width: 59.5mm; thickness in middle of hoop: 8.5mm; weight: 73.7g).

The ‘manilla’ has been made in the form of a small penannular arm bangle/ bracelet comprising of a circular-sectioned curved rod of a standard thickness, with expanded and flattened sub oval-shaped terminals (length of flattened terminals: 21mm; width of terminals: 16.5mm). There is a slight ridge running down the length of each terminal base, which has been ground down/ worn by an instrument leaving numerous scratch marks across the width of the terminal bases. Additionally, there is a casting ridge/ seam around the inside curve of the ‘manilla’, which terminates at the flattened terminals. There is no decoration on the artefact, which is in an overall slightly worn but good condition with a smooth light grey/ green patina.

Three other ‘manillas’ have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database: CORN-327A62, CORN-31B3A7 (both found on the Isles of Scilly) & SUSS-8B6027 (found in Worcester), with the latter of the Cornish examples being particularly similar to this example. According to Anna Tyacke (Cornwall Finds Liaison Officer), these ‘manillas were used as a form of money to trade for slaves on the West African coast from the time of Henry VIII right up until World War II. They are hard to date as they were made in the same way, using the same metals with the same decoration for a long time.’ Ms Tyacke also states that the two Cornish ‘manillas’ were found by two different finders on the Isles of Scilly with CORN-31B3A7 (the very similar example to this Staffordshire artefact) probably being ‘made in Birmingham for trade between Britain and West Africa in the 18th or 19th century’. This is also similar to an example in the ‘Royal Institution of Cornwall's collections that came from the shipwreck of the schooner, the 'Duoro', en route to Africa and lost with all hands off Crebawethan, Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly on 27th January, 1843’. Ms Tyacke suggests that as CORN-31B3A7 was found to the southwest of this wreck findpsot, it is plausible that this manilla may have also come from that wreck.

CORN-327A61 and CORN-31B3A7 are also illustrated in the Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2005/6, pages 107-8.