Goldweight Depicting an Antelope

Akan gold weights were cast in a variety of forms—depicting humans, animals, plants, and artifacts in addition to a variety of abstract and geometric motifs. Only a few centimeters in size, these weights were used for measuring gold dust, the currency in Ghana and the Côte d’Ivoire from the 15th century to the end of the 19th century. This gold weight is in the shape of an antelope. The animal’s horns curve backward and each of its hooves points forward. One of its legs is missing, which may have been lost by accident or by an intentional act by a merchant in a desperate attempt to balance the scale.