A closer look
Standardized currency doesn't always fit neatly in a bifold wallet. For centuries in the Democratic Republic of Congo region, the premier currency was the Katanga cross—massive, X-shaped ingots of cast copper weighing up to two pounds each. These weren't pocket change for buying snacks; they were high-denomination, heavy-duty wealth used for major life transactions like buying land, trading for slaves, or settling royal tributes. By casting them in a highly specific cross shape, local metalsmiths created a beautifully unforgeable, standardized unit of account that proved you were dealing with someone who had serious purchasing power.
