Copper Ringlets-Spanish?

[Jezzowhat]

Years ago my brother and myself had been exploring an area that had quite a bit of Spanish mining activity at one time, we found a vertical shaft in a small mountain meadow and I repelled down into it by tying my rope to a tree nearby. The mine was caved in about 25 feet or so after it leveled off at the bottom of the vertical shaft. I had a flashlite with me and poked around for 15 or 20 minutes until I started feeling sick and had to get out-bad air maybe?- anyways I found these 2 copper ringlets and 2 small ore/nuggets in the shaft [sold one].Anybody know what these copper things are?

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Those rings look cool, but I don't know what they are.
I'm going to take a wild guess. Could they be an old style hog nose ring? They look like furniture drawer pulls.

 

[junkdigger]

Those are African Manillas or African slave bracelet money. Used over a few centuries to trade for slaves.I Google searched "African slave bracelet",selecting IMAGES to find photos of these items.Great find!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

That's it junkdigger. Very cool find. 8) What state are you in Jezzowhat? Be careful down in those old mines.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

http://www.aurorahistoryboutique.com/ahb.cfm?a=P000003


Really nice find! Are you going back in there? Be careful !!!! Take breathing aparatus....looks like a great place to explore!

 

[Jezzowhat]

Junkdigger,thanx for the id! I have been wondering for years what they were-fantastic! Bigcypresshunter, I am in Utah. Gypsyheart, I may go back someday and see if it is still open,the enterance was pretty small when I was there years ago,if I do,I will definately need some type of standalone breathing system. Thanx everyone for your help with this.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Don't go alone.

 

[hollowpointred]

Those are African Manillas or African slave bracelet money. Used over a few centuries to trade for slaves.I Google searched "African slave bracelet",selecting IMAGES to find photos of these items.Great find!

junkdigger is absolutely right. they are a great find! a lot of history attached to them. and yeah.......be carefull in those mines.there can be poisonous gasses in mines like that. good thing you got out when you did.

 

[Angelo]

This forum does not cease to amaze me...

Such knowledge. So quick to figure things out!

search "slavery utah" lot's of information regarding the roots of your find.

Watching this forum is as exciting as actual metal detecting.

Tony (Angelos Grandpa)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hey Jezz, found this site by accident. It is not from Utah, but you might find some of these other slave items in those caves. http://www.keyshistory.org/slavetradehtml.

click Fla History Room
click Cultural History Cybermuseum
click Slave Trade