TINNAHS: THE CHIEF'S COPPER

Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, September 19, 1941.

COPPER "CURRENCY" OF ALASKA NATIVES IS MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Proof that Alaska Indians, before the advent of the white men, operated their finances strictly on a copper standard is shown in a new exhibit which made its appearance at the Territorial Museum this week.

Called a Tinneh, or Chief's Copper, it is a huge copper shield with hand-hammered decorations, once used for money among the Thlinget and other Southeast Alaska Tribes.

Loaned to the museum from the private collection of Edward L. Keithahn, curator, the piece is said to increased in value each time it changed hands. Some of these copper plates, Keithahn declares, were once traded for thousands of blankets.

Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, August 20, 1948.

TERR. MUSEUM RECEIVES COIN WEIGHING 17 LBS.

If you think the silver dollars that are used in Alaska today are designed to tear holes in you pockets, you can thank your lucky stars that you weren't around during the early days. The Territorial Museum recently received a piece of Thlinget currency weighing over 17 pounds. The coin, which is made of hammered copper, is carved with a totemic design.

The coin, which was called a tinneh, was valued highly. The Thlingets generally computed the value of it in slaves, while the Haidas figured its worth in sea otter skins. The tinneh on display at the Museum was found near Sitka several years ago.

The Tinnah referenced in the August 20, 1948 article can be seen on the Alaska State Museum website: museums.alaska.gov. It is item number II-B-1112.

We requested permission to use these photos, but the fee was $30 per photo and we would have used three. We declined.

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