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Bulgari "Gemme Nummarie" Monete Pendant
$9,500
Set in 18K gold, this diminutive "Gemme Nummarie" pendant is mounted with an ancient Roman coin . The pendant is designed with a bronze coin dating from the first half of the 4th century AD set within a smooth 18k bezel, the front depicting a draped right-facing bust of Constantine I with a rosette diadem, verso with two soldiers bearing standards, dedicated to the glory of the army. This crisply preserved ancient coin within its streamlined modern setting is diminutive but compelling Bulgari "gem coin".
- Product Details
- Curator's Notes
Item #: N-21644
Artist: Bulgari
Country: Italy
Circa: Late 20th century
Dimensions: 0.75" diameter.
Materials: 18K Gold
Signed: BVLGARI, Italian control marks, 750, ROMA -CONSTANTINVS I AVG. A. D. 306-337
Literature: For an extended discussion of 'Gemme Nummarie" at Bulgari, see Bulgari by Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi, pp. 110-133.
In the 1960s, at the instigation of Nicola Bulgari, the firm began mounting ancient coins in jewelry again. Nicola's exploration of this theme produced a body of jewelry that has proven to be one of the firm's most creative and popular styles. Such ancient coin jewelry had been a long-standing tradition in Rome, pursued by the Castellani family in the 19th century. A pair of ruby and ancient gold coin bracelets featuring the seven emperors -created by Castellani -is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Such jewelry has long been celebrated as an artistic way to link and align both the art and the virtues of the ancient world with modern values. Bulgari coin jewelry is specially constructed not to diminish the numismatic value of the artifact.