Description (Labels & Markings)
A has the number 'Dep 21.199' on it.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

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Description (Physical description)
A second catalogue card reads: 'Currency from Benin; Manillas'.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Acquisition Details)
The Beldam Collection was placed on Deposit at MAA by the Executors of Joseph Beldam in 1921.
Event Date 1921
Author: Mark Elliott

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Context (Related Documents)
Deposit Register: 'Dep 21.B.199. Currency. Benin. Beldam's Exors.' [stamp:] 'Bequeathed 1947'.
Event Date 1921
Author: Mark Elliott

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Context (Acquisition Details)
The Beldam Collection, placed on Deposit in 1921, was Bequeathed and formally transferred to MAA in 1947.
Event Date 1947
Author: Mark Elliott

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Context (Acquisition Details)
Deposited in 1921 as part of Joseph Beldam's collection of 'Classical vases and other objects' (Annual Report for 1920) by his nephew Major Francis William Edward Beldam, (4th (Militia) Battalion Suffolk Reg. and Clare College), who died in 1942
Event Date 1947
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Amendments / updates)
Two catalogue cards for this object, one for each number, D 1921.199 B and Z 25662 A



Event Date 20/9/2000
Author: maa

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Description (Physical description)
One of two 'bronze manillas (currency rings).'

Event Date 20/9/2000
Author: maa

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Context (Display)
Exhibited: Previously displayed in drawer A, under the Africa case, Maudslay Hall, CUMAA, 2001.
Event Date 2001
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Amendments / updates)
This object was subsequently bequeathed in 1947 and later given a Z number. The suffixes A and B do not appear in either Accession Register entry. [J.Somerville]
Event Date 9/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Display)
Exhibited in the Benin case in the Andrews gallery from 20 March 2017- present
Event Date 20/3/2017
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Analysis)
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this idno using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material. This object was tested twice and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 77.74%; Sn: 0.71%; Pb: 17.58%. 2) Cu: 78.78%; Sn: 0.72%; Pb: 16.78.

It was noted as being leaded copper, with no Zn. Other manillas analysed previously, at MAA and elsewhere, tend to be either unalloyed copper, or leaded copper like this one (and indeed the high Sb has been found by Craddock in other manillas). As such, bar for very few exceptions, you would not be able to make any of the 'classic' Benin bronzes/brasses by melting and casting manillas. Either there is a chronological mismatch, or manillas were used for something else (or systematically remelted together with brasses).
Event Date 21/3/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Conservation (Remedial)
CON.1992.4 | Remedial
Event Date 20/11/2020
Author: Stefanie Mueller

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card for D 1921.199 B reads in black ink: Dep.21.B.1999. / Currency. / from Benin. / Beldam Collection."
In second hand, red biro, top right corner: "Nigeria"
Stamped in black ink: "BEQUEA[TH] / 1947"
Event Date 20/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Amendments / updates)
The record previously gave Northcote Thomas as the source as the Z number register was incorrectly read. However, only the previous entry, Z 25661, is attributed to Thomas. The record has been updated and reconnected to the Beldam deposit and bequest.
Event Date 20/8/2020
Author: Chris Wingfield

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Context (Amendments / updates)
The Deposit register reference to 'Benin is assumed to refer to the historic Kingdom of Benin or Benin City and this has been added to the place field with queries. 'Edo' has therefore also been added to the cultural group field.
There are no known connections to the 1897 Benin Expedition

Event Date 10/9/2021
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Analysis)
Analysed using XRF instrumentation by Dr Agnese Benzonelli, University of Cambridge, as part of research by Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Dr Agnese Benzonelli into Benin material at MAA
Event Date 3/4/2023
Author: rachel hand