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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,460 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
As a long time collector I have never liked the idea of mutilating coins to make jewelry and thought that I would never support such atrocities. Over the years I have seen some British coins with enameled coats of arms that were real eye catchers and made me pause. Recently I ran across this Bavarian Madonna thaler of 1769 KM-519.1. It was love at first sight. The pin mounted on the obverse is very old. The Madonna and Child reverse is multi-colored enamel and also looks to be quite old. The entire enameled area is covered with what looks like a thick acrylic-like layer which may not be very old.  
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Moderator
 United States
34423 Posts |
Damaged...yes. But still a pretty interesting pick-up. Nice work!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
No longer numismatically valuable, but a very interesting jewelry artwork nevertheless, and well worth keeping.
If it had been available, I would have bought it at the right price at auction.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I love the Madonna thalers & this is a nice jewelry piece, enamelled to boot. Most of these coins ended up in mounts or pinbacks, making unmolested examples that haven't been cleaned or damaged tough to come by.
She wears blue, signifying purity and royalty, and a crown signifying that she is the Queen of Heaven; the crowned orb represents the Holy Roman Empire.
The Electorate of Bavaria was still Roman Catholic at the time these coins were struck. Similar depictions of the Madonna and Child can be found on the minors such as the 10 and 20 Kreuzer.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
541 Posts |
Thanks Adam. I remember reading long ago, that the orb symbolized the world and that her feet on the crescent moon represents the subjugation of the devil or evil.
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Pillar of the Community
Austria
566 Posts |
@retiredkper - The crescent is also an early symbol for the Virgin Mary in early Christianity, before Islam was created, and before it became the preferred religion of ancient Rome.
In general religious statues/images do not offend or show the conquering of other religions/beliefs at all. Yet, many people like to see what they want to see.
Edited by coinworldtv
06/15/2017 08:38 am
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Pillar of the Community
Austria
566 Posts |
As about the coin - it is valuable due to the skilled enamel work which we can see here.
Enamelled coins are quite collectable and are being collected for a long time.
This particular piece must be an early work, done by a skilled jeweller, who knew both the art of enamel and engraving.
I would apprise it at about $50-$90, which is a dealer price, for a collector it might be worth double that amount.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
Thanks coinworldtv, you have opened a door for me to the ancient world on this one. Back to the goddess Diana of mythology. Looks like another example of a new religion co-opting the symbols of the older religion it replaces.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,460 |
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Posted 06/11/2017 6:30 pm
