1960's Goddess Selket - King Tut
Mardi Gras Gilt Doubloon
H. Alvin Sharpe Selket
Possibly an earlier undated Mardi Gras Doubloon most likely Gilt Bronze.
I have seen this in three compositions but they appear to be very scarce.
H. Alvin Sharpe died in 1982. He invented the Mardi Gras doubloon in 1959. He especially produced ship-themed doubloons for the Krewe of Poseidon, 1967-1983 (the 1983 version was ready at his death and appeared posthumously). He was also a jeweler, a watch maker and an intaglio print maker.
26.2 grams ("Heavies" catagory)
39.08 mm
2.9 mm
Initials HGJ on left and HAS on right on Tut side
Initials KWS on bottom right Selket side (Maybe for the Krewe of Westside?)
Heavies are doubloons made out of bronze, copper, silver oxide, nickel, sterling silver or other metals. They are generally of thicker gauge and often have a high-relief design and a patina applied (antiquing). They are much heavier than aluminum and not intended as "Throws" during the parades like aluminum are intended.
These are high-end doubloons, produced in lower quantity (some as low as just a few per year) and much more expensive than aluminum doubloons. As a high-end product, they tend to retain their value but don't show up in a lot of collections because of cost and limited availability.
Selket is probably more often known as Serket, but is also known as Selqet, Selcis or Serqet.
For relating to this medal, she will be Selket, the goddess of fertility, nature, animals, medicine, magic, and healing venomous stings and bites in Egyptian mythology from scorpians and snakes.
She was depicted in the form of a woman with a scorpian on her head and referred to as "She who gives breath" because of the way waterscorpions seem to breathe underwater.
In a strong association with the scorpion, which is famous to protect its young, also Selket symbolizes the strong protection of motherhood and nurturing of children.
Selket also was considered a protector of the dead, and protected the shrine for the canopic vases at the Tomb of King Tut, and appears here (center) in a painting at the 19th dynasty tomb of Nefertari, Valley of the Queens.
I believe this is the mask of King Tutankhamun on the opposite side of the medal.
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Posted 05/30/2020 9:18 pm
