The Tsangan’ olona: a money coin as much as a vessel of beliefs

The first money coins ever used in Madagascar were mainly introduced by the French during the 17th century. Commercial exchanges between both reals were so far matters of trade by barter, obviously much to the foreigner’s advantage. “Ohatr’ inona?” may have gone down in history as the common equivalent for “how much is it?”, its original meaning actually derives from this primitive for of trade, and sounds like: “the equivalent for what?”

Prior to the introduction of money and currencies, various artefacts used to be exchanged for zebus (cattle), foodstuff, and slaves. When the natives began to catch the point with the meaning of money through increasing contacts with sailing by trade ships, the french king Louis XIVth ordered the new trend to be broken. The trade had to remain under control, and not that of the natives.

Of all the currencies which have accompanied the subdued Isle’s history, the French piaster has left the longest ever footprint. The 5 franks coin used to carry the faces of many kings and emperors: Napoleon, Louis XVIIth, Charles X, Louis Philipp, Napoleon IIrd. The coin’s Malagasy names were reflecting, not without glee, the fair description of the stamped face: malamakely, behatoka, mandrihavia, ampongabe.

History has seen the piasters divided and litterally sheared off in smaller pieces, whose amount was proportional to the obtained size. During the 18th century, wealthy people used to be dubbed as such because of the size of their lands, the number of their cattle and slaves, and the number of their piasters as well. The so named “mpanarivo” endowed with more than one thousand piasters were mighty figures by the time.

The relationship which arouse between Madagascans and their coins has progressively grown mystical. Scores of dead people used to be brought under the ground with their piasters, from the very lowest commoner, provided that he had any to take away with, to the very highest ranking royalty. In 1868, Queen Rasoherina was buried in a coffin made of her 22 000 piasters. The local princes, who also served the crown as tax collectors, were expected to swear loyalty to every next new royal ruler over and over again by offering him a piaster during the royal bath and whenever summoned to appear before the king, as a pledge of allegiance.

The Tsangan’ Olona was vastly different from the piaster. This coin was made of silver, used to be jealously kept safe and did not roam around as much as the piaster did. The Madagascans actually used to hold it so much dear, that they dared to turn banknotes down until the colonial power flexed muscles to put them through. The piasters carried one foreign ruler’s face at a time. The Tsangan’ Olona coin was hosting three standing human shapes. The symbol of justice and the carved words:”Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood” did not matter as much as the human shapes did.

The compound word “Tsangan’ Olona” reflects the magical power to raise oneself’s destiny up. A little more than one century ago, anyone indicted in court had to bath into waters hallowed by a Tsangan’ Olona in order to expect his innocence to be acknowledged. The very silver metal used to be praised in old Malagasy beliefs for its argued purifying properties for both body and soul. Anyone eventually feeling stained by evil craftmanship or foul sorcery was yearning for a purifying bath into waters made holy by a Tsangan’ Olona coin.

The holy coin and the beliefs related to it have now long withered in the sands of time. One Tsangan’ Olona, if ever found, costs Ar 60 000 to Ar 120 000 on the market (Euro 1 = Ar 2 900). Nowadays’ commoners only hold it as a mere big silver coin potentially suitable for bracers or a flashy necklace.

Over more than 150 years, Madagascans have most likely favoring no other money coin but the “Tsangan’ Olona.” This basically French third republic originated coin survived extinction on foreign soil for having escaped the fate of the piaster divided over and over again, the currency used by the time on the vassalized Great Isle. It took the colonial power a law back in 1916 to put the 5 franks banknotes through. The Tsangan’ Olona has ever since been blending with mystical traditions, as a pledge for purety and emancipation in oneself’s life.

The first money coins ever used in Madagascar were mainly introduced by the French during the 17th century. Commercial exchanges between both reals were so far matters of trade by barter, obviously much to the foreigner’s advantage. “Ohatr’ inona?” may have gone down in history as the common equivalent for “how much is it?”, its original meaning actually derives from this primitive for of trade, and sounds like: “the equivalent for what?”

Prior to the introduction of money and currencies, various artefacts used to be exchanged for zebus (cattle), foodstuff, and slaves. When the natives began to catch the point with the meaning of money through increasing contacts with sailing by trade ships, the french king Louis XIVth ordered the new trend to be broken. The trade had to remain under control, and not that of the natives.

Of all the currencies which have accompanied the subdued Isle’s history, the French piaster has left the longest ever footprint. The 5 franks coin used to carry the faces of many kings and emperors: Napoleon, Louis XVIIth, Charles X, Louis Philipp, Napoleon IIrd. The coin’s Malagasy names were reflecting, not without glee, the fair description of the stamped face: malamakely, behatoka, mandrihavia, ampongabe.

History has seen the piasters divided and litterally sheared off in smaller pieces, whose amount was proportional to the obtained size. During the 18th century, wealthy people used to be dubbed as such because of the size of their lands, the number of their cattle and slaves, and the number of their piasters as well. The so named “mpanarivo” endowed with more than one thousand piasters were mighty figures by the time.

The relationship which arouse between Madagascans and their coins has progressively grown mystical. Scores of dead people used to be brought under the ground with their piasters, from the very lowest commoner, provided that he had any to take away with, to the very highest ranking royalty. In 1868, Queen Rasoherina was buried in a coffin made of her 22 000 piasters. The local princes, who also served the crown as tax collectors, were expected to swear loyalty to every next new royal ruler over and over again by offering him a piaster during the royal bath and whenever summoned to appear before the king, as a pledge of allegiance.

The Tsangan’ Olona was vastly different from the piaster. This coin was made of silver, used to be jealously kept safe and did not roam around as much as the piaster did. The Madagascans actually used to hold it so much dear, that they dared to turn banknotes down until the colonial power flexed muscles to put them through. The piasters carried one foreign ruler’s face at a time. The Tsangan’ Olona coin was hosting three standing human shapes. The symbol of justice and the carved words:”Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood” did not matter as much as the human shapes did.

The compound word “Tsangan’ Olona” reflects the magical power to raise oneself’s destiny up. A little more than one century ago, anyone indicted in court had to bath into waters hallowed by a Tsangan’ Olona in order to expect his innocence to be acknowledged. The very silver metal used to be praised in old Malagasy beliefs for its argued purifying properties for both body and soul. Anyone eventually feeling stained by evil craftmanship or foul sorcery was yearning for a purifying bath into waters made holy by a Tsangan’ Olona coin.

The holy coin and the beliefs related to it have now long withered in the sands of time. One Tsangan’ Olona, if ever found, costs Ar 60 000 to Ar 120 000 on the market (Euro 1 = Ar 2 900). Nowadays’ commoners only hold it as a mere big silver coin potentially suitable for bracers or a flashy necklace.