One of five brass gold weights, in the shape of a scorpion.
These brass weights, often referred to as gold weights, were used by the Asante to measure gold dust, which was the currency of the Asante. The lost wax method was used to cast a gold weight. A beeswax model of the weight was encased in a clay cocoon and baked. The wax ran out and was replaced by molten brass. When it cooled the clay was knocked off the outside revealing the weight.
Animal shapes were often made, for example the scorpion which is the symbol of death. Others showed images everyday life.
