Copper The most important symbol of wealth, power, status and prestige is the Copper; a shield-shaped object made of beaten copper, sometimes engraved with symbols. A copper has a rectangular base segmented with a ridged "T" line; the non-segmented top portion of the shield flares beyond the width of this base. Chiefs were known to cut off a piece of their copper and give it to an honored guest or rival at a potlatch. A broken copper in this manner did not loose value: on the contrary, such a display increased a copper's worth.