it was probably done when the coin was in circulation and probably by someone that could afford to use such a coin for decoration and not miss it. They had to be of wealth to do so but I have seen many gold coins done this way so it must have been a popular thing back then with the wealthy
Edit: after looking at it again I noticed this is in a bezel not soldiered to the coin itself so the coin probably isn't damaged unless the bezel has marked up the coin. The older ones I have seen had the clasps soldiered straight onto the coin itself
Edit: after looking at it again I noticed this is in a bezel not soldiered to the coin itself so the coin probably isn't damaged unless the bezel has marked up the coin. The older ones I have seen had the clasps soldiered straight onto the coin itself



















