Heavy brass torque bracelet

Hi all, here is this weeks mystery item.

I would call it a torque bracelet or cuff. Made of brass, heavy at 167 grams, and very large. Much too big even for a large persons wrist, so maybe upper arm or ankle? It has markings both ends but i dont recognise the script. They also dont photo very well but i will try and get a clearer shot.

Ive not made any attempt to clean it yet, maybe my Maas metal polish would be okay?

 

don't clean it just yet......maybe the mark will say something to someone first !

 

That looks more like a nose ring for a bull or some other animal.

 

Could it be something other than Brass? Those marks (I can't read them clearly) almost look like some kind of hallmark?

Can you do a rubbing of the marks maybe?

 

I like the bull ring suggestion, but i dont think it would work as one.

I think its possible its low grade silver. It has what looks like tarnishing as well as verdigris. There is that metallic smell of brass/copper when ive been holding it.

Another pic of the mark, looks to be the same characters on both ends.

 

My guess is that the mark is in Islamic (or possibly Chinese?) script and either a quality or size/weight mark - what do you think?

 

Ok, found it. It's an old west African slave bracelet ..or Manilla ..

halfway down the page ..
http://usslave.blogspot.com/2011/10/manilla-money-of-slave-trade.html

 

The bracelet is the most common money form in Africa. It served the important monetary functions of portability and wealth display.Variants of this form were accepted virtually everywhere in Africa, with the result that today it is often difficult to know where a particular type originated or was used, and to what extent it was either money or jewelry

 

Mystery solved, thanks all