Origin: Southern India Circa: 14 th Century AD to 15 th Century AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Indian Coin Rings Medium: Gold Two deities in a seated position are  More »

Origin: Southern India Circa: 14 th Century AD to 15 th Century AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Indian Coin Rings Medium: Gold Two deities in a seated position are the central motif of this beautiful coin. They may represent the Great Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati, who are often depicted in iconography in a hieratic posture to emphasize their supernatural nature and encourage devotion on the part of the viewer. In its lovely setting this coin recalls the wealth and splendor of India's rich history. - (FJ.6442)   « Less

Origin: Coin from Iraq Circa: 8 th Century AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Rings Medium: Gold The Abbasid caliphs ruled in Baghdad from 749 - 1258 A.D.  More »

Origin: Coin from Iraq Circa: 8 th Century AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Rings Medium: Gold The Abbasid caliphs ruled in Baghdad from 749 - 1258 A.D. claiming descent from Abbas, the uncle of the prophet Mohammed. Soon after its establishment the Abbasid dynasty attained its most brilliant period of political and intellectual life. It was, around this time Arabic flourished as a language for science, diplomacy, as well as poetry. The obverse legend on this beautiful coin reads, 'There is No God but Allah Alone'. - (FJ.6533)   « Less

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 491 AD to 518 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Rings Medium: Gold Anastasius was born in Dyrrachium (modern  More »

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 491 AD to 518 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Rings Medium: Gold Anastasius was born in Dyrrachium (modern Durazzo, in Albania), on the Adriatic coast, around 430 A.D. He was not prominent at the court of Zeno, reaching the minor rank of silentiary in the palace. His religious knowledge, however, meant he was considered in 488 for promotion to bishop of Antioch. After Zeno's death, Anastasius was declared emperor April 11, 491. Anastasius was the choice of Ariadne, Zeno's widow, and seems to have been a surprise to the aristocracy. A month after his accession, on May 20, 491, Anastasius married Ariadne but the marriage produced no children. He was buried with Ariadne in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. Anastasius was nicknamed "Dicorus" (Two-Pupils), because of his multi-colored eyes (one black, one blue). He died July 8 or 10, 518 and was succeeded by Justin I.This stunning ring evokes the glory and beauty of the early Christian era and its flowering. The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. This coin is a fitting memorial of Anastasius, the man responsible for perfecting the Empire’s monetary system and increasing its treasury. There is an eternal splendor to this ring, a beauty that radiates from within the coin and envelopes the gold setting. To wear this ring is to evoke the spirit of change. For although time changes and the world evolves, true beauty and elegance as defined by this ring are eternal and immune to the fancies and whims of individual tastes. - (FJ.6772)   « Less

Origin: Coin from Persia Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has been set in  More »

Origin: Coin from Persia Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has been set in a modern 18 karat gold ring.The Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th cent. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad. The early years of Abbasid rule were brilliant, rising to true splendor under Harun al-Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836 the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and in 1258 Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt.The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. The sides of the ring have been engraved with a decorative abstract pattern in the shape of a heart that echoes the intricate molding of the ring and the sinuous lines of the cufic text. To wear this ring is to reconnect with the brilliance of the early Abbasid dynasty in all its glory. - (FJ.6605)   « Less

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 527 AD to 565 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Byzantine gold coin has been  More »

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 527 AD to 565 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Byzantine gold coin has been set in a modern 18 karat gold ring.The reign of Justinian was a turning point in Late Antiquity. It is the period when paganism finally lost its long struggle to survive, and when the schism in Christianity between the Monophysite east and the Chalcedonian west became insurmountable. From a military viewpoint, it marked the last time that the Roman Empire could go on the offensive with hope of success. Africa and Italy were recovered, and a foothold was established in Spain. When Justinian died, the frontiers were still intact although the Balkans had been devastated by a series of raids and the Italian economy was in ruins. His extensive building program has left us the most celebrated example of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture that still survives: the Hagia Sophia in modern Istanbul. His reign was a period when classical culture was in sharp decline and yet it had a last flowering, with historians such as Procopius and Agathias working within the tradition inherited from Herodotus and Thucydides, and poets such as Paul the Silentiary who wrote some of the most sensuous poems that the classical tradition has ever produced. The Codex Justinianus, the Institutes and the Digest of Roman jurisprudence, all commissioned by Justinian, are monuments to the past achievements of Roman legal heritage. Justinian's reign sums up the past. It also provides a matrix for the future. In particular, there was the bubonic plague, which appeared in Constantinople in 542, for the first time in Europe, and then traveled round the empire in search of victims, returning to the capital for a new crop in 558. The plague ended a period of economic growth and initiated one of overstrained resources.This stunning ring evokes the glory and beauty of the early Christian era and its flowering. The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. The course of Europe and the world would forever change due to the efforts of Justinian I. There is an eternal splendor to this ring, a beauty that radiates from within the coin and envelopes the gold setting. To wear this ring is to evoke the spirit of change. For although time changes and worlds evolve, true beauty and elegance as defined by this ring are eternal and immune to the fancies and whims of individual tastes. - (FJ.6615)   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 913 AD to 959 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Ring Medium: Gold This Ancient Coin Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold  More »

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 913 AD to 959 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Byzantine Coin Ring Medium: Gold This Ancient Coin Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold RingDecorating the obverse of this coin is an image of Christ Pantokrator, or Christ depicted as the awesome ruler of the universe. His head is encircled by a cross nimbus as he holds a Bible in his hand. This image was introduced on Byzantine coinage during the reign of Justinian II and would remain the main style for the next one hundred years. Constantine VII and Romanus II appear in the conventional imperial portrait on the reverse, with Constantine designated senior emperor by his position on the left, by his more elaborate dress, and by his slightly larger scale.Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus spent more than thirty years on the throne before he was able to take power from his regents in A.D. 945; shortly afterward he made his son, Romanus II, co-emperor. Like his father, Leo VI, Constantine was a scholar, and he is best known not for his political or military exploits but for his encyclopedic scholarship and patronage of intellectual pursuits.This gorgeous ring conveys the splendor and majesty of the Byzantine Empire. Christianity flourished during this era and matured as a religious and social institution as this coin confirms. The beauty of the gold coin is enhanced by the soft hue of the gold ring, engraved with abstract floral decorations on the sides. This splendid ring is a reminder of a time when Christianity dominated the Western world, a time when rulers were as pious as the populace, a time when scholarship, not warfare, was the main focus of the ruling elite. - (FJ.6620)   « Less

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This Ancient Coin Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold  More »

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This Ancient Coin Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat Gold RingThe Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th cent. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, and Persian influence grew strong in the empire. The early years of Abbasid rule were brilliant, rising to true splendor under Harun al-Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836 the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and, in 1258, Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt.The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. The sides of the ring have been engraved with a decorative abstract pattern in the shape of a heart that echoes the intricate molding of the ring and the sinuous lines of the cufic text. To wear this ring is to reconnect with the brilliance of the early Abbasid dynasty in all its glory. - (FJ.6661)   « Less

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho, Israel Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has  More »

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho, Israel Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has been set in a modern 18 karat gold ring.The Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th cent. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, and Persian influence grew strong in the empire. The early years of Abbasid rule were brilliant, rising to true splendor under Harun al-Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836 the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and, in 1258, Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt.The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. The sides of the ring have been engraved with a decorative abstract pattern in the shape of a heart that echoes the intricate molding of the ring and the sinuous lines of the Cufic text. To wear this ring is to reconnect with the brilliance of the early Abbasid dynasty in all its glory. - (FJ.6668)   « Less

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho, Israel Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has  More »

Origin: Coin Found in Jericho, Israel Circa: 749 AD to 1258 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Islamic Coin Ring Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Islamic gold coin has been set in a modern 18 karat gold ring. The Abbasid Dynasty was an Arab family legendarily descended from Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad. The Abbasids held the caliphate from 749 to 1258. Under the Umayyad caliphs, the Abbasids lived quietly until they became involved in numerous disputes, beginning early in the 8th Century. The family then joined with the Shiite faction in opposing the Umayyads, and in 747 the gifted Abu Muslim united most of the empire in revolt against the Umayyads. The head of the Abbasid family became caliph as Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah late in 749. Under the second Abbasid caliph, called al-Mansur, the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, and Persian influence grew strong in the empire. The early years of Abbasid rule were a veritable golden age, rising to true splendor under Harun al- Rashid and to intellectual brilliance under his son al-Mamun. After less than a hundred years of rule, however, the slow decline of the Abbasids began. Long periods of disorder were marked by assassinations, depositions, control by Turkish soldiers, and other disturbances. In 836, the capital was transferred to Samarra, remaining there until 892. Under the later Abbasids, the power of the caliphate became chiefly spiritual. Many independent kingdoms sprang up, and the empire split into autonomous units. The Seljuk Turks came to hold the real power at Baghdad. Later their power dwindled even further, and, in 1258, Baghdad was burned by the Tatars. From then until 1517 the Abbasids retained limited power as caliphs of Egypt. The gold of the ring and the gold of the coin both complement each other. Together, the two hues merge into a lustrous splendor of precious metal. The sides of the ring have been engraved with a decorative spiraling floral pattern that echoes the intricate molding of the ring and the sinuous lines of the Cufic text. To wear this ring is to reconnect with the brilliance of the early Abbasid Dynasty in all its glory. - (FJ.6638)   « Less

Origin: Coin Found in Alexandria, Egypt Circa: 364 AD to 375 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Roman Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Roman gold coin has  More »

Origin: Coin Found in Alexandria, Egypt Circa: 364 AD to 375 AD Collection: Coin Jewelry Style: Roman Coin Rings Medium: Gold This genuine Ancient Roman gold coin has been set in a modern 18 karat gold ring.Flavius Valentinianus had risen to the position of Praetorian Prefect under Emperor Jovian. After Jovian’s death, he was raised to the throne by the soldiers in Bithynia. One of his first acts as emperor was to promote his brother Valens to the rank of co-Augustus to rule the Eastern half of the Empire. However, the transition of power was complicated by the fact that the army was marching back from Jovian’s aborted invasion of Persia. Taking advantage of the power vacuum in the capital, an opportunistic relative of Jovian, Procopius, rushed ahead of the army back to Constantinople where he was declare emperor. Valentinian left Valens to deal with the usurper while his set off to establish control in the west. Valentinian set up court in Milan and spent the majority of his reign fending off the increasingly powerful German attacks along the Rhine. After falling seriously ill in 367 A.D., Valentinian appointed his young son Gratian as Augustus. By 374 A.D., Valentinian was forced to stem a new series of German assaults across the Danube. Valentinian eventually passed away after suffering a stroke in 375 A.D., apparently brought on by his frustration.How many hands have touched a coin in your pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the coin traversed on its journey into our possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of who might have touched the coin before us, or where the coin will venture to after it leaves our hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of the state that struck them, of a specific time and location, whether contemporary currencies or artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail that is often lacking in contemporary machine- made currencies. This ancient coin is a memorial to an emperor passed from the hands of civilization to civilization, from generation to generation that still appears as vibrant today as the day it was struck. - (FJ.6887)   « Less