Featured Tribal? necklace made from old coin , what is this?

I saw this as it came in & took it because it was so unusual, but also because it was on a old coin that would have been valuable if not changed so much, but might still be.
When the manager told me $10 , I decided it was well worth the risk.
Was it worth the $10 as it is?
What is it? Tribal decoration/jewelry?
Thanks for any help!

 

Real or replica I couldn't tell you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Theresa_thaler

Debora

 

Maria Theresia Talers (MTT) were made in great quantities, especially for the Middle Eastern and African market. It was a reliable coin, always .833 fineness, so people trusted it. It was often made into jewellery.

I think your pendant was made in Afghanistan in a traditional style. Most Afghans are tribal, so in that sense it is probably tribal jewellery.
The more safe and correct term is ethnic jewellery, which covers all ethnicities, also those that don't form tribes (which is most people).

Although it isn't worth anything as a coin, it is worth more than your $10 as a traditional ethnic MTT pendant.

 

Thank you

 

This is a pendant from Saudi Arabia (could also be from Yemen but I tend to Saudi Arabia). Having seen them in the Saudi Souks before in quantities, they have now become rare. They were sewn onto headdresses to act as weights during windy weather... and of course as adornments. The Maria Theresia Thaler was the official currency in many Middle Eastern and African countries, such as Sudan, Ethiopia but also Oman, etc... Plus the Thaler was used as a primary source to be melted down to manufacture jewelry for the bride. A beautiful piece, having a value of around USD 50. This is a good buy! Congratulations!