The African Art Collection of Walter Logan Fry

Iron and steel were high value commodities in Liberia, so valuable, in fact, that iron was formed into narrow strips called kissi money. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that the use of iron would be avoided, when a cheaper material could be used. Perhaps for that reason, most spears seen in museum collections in Europe and the United States have iron spear points, with the remainder of the spear consisting of a wooden shaft. The Metropolitan Museum in New York City, New York, for example, has several spears from The Democratic Republic of Congo in its collection, but I could find no spears from Africa in The Met Collection, that were made exclusively of iron or steel. Each had a steel point, while the shaft was made of wood, as in the object below:

Spear
Democratic Republic of the Congo;
19th or 20th century; iron, wood;
66-1/2 in (166.37 m);
Gift of Drs. John and Nicole Dintenfas;
The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York City, NY; Accession Number: 1990.337.7

An object in the collection of the National Museum of African Art, on the other hand, discusses blade currency, albeit in the context of an object from Central Africa: "Objects such as hoes, throwing knives and spears were highly valued for their utility. In many African societies, this value was represented by iron blade currency. Blacksmiths forged stylized forms that resembled these objects. Blade currency was not accumulated as personal wealth but rather circulated as a medium of exchange. It was an especially popular form of bridewealth payment since its metal could be reforged into other weapons and tools of value. Bridewealth refers to the practice of compensating the bride's family for the loss of its daughter's services, which will now benefit her new family. It also acknowledges all that a bride brings to her husband and his family, including the hope of descendants," NMAFA, object no. 2000-28-10.

The spear in the Walter Logan Fry collection is solid steel; and engraved with geometric patterns. It clearly was not an ordinary spear, and was undoubtedly either a prestige object for a high ranking warrior or chief; or a form of blade currency or bridewealth, as discussed above.