Featured A Crime Against Numismatic Heritage

Antique 1883 HAWAIIAN SILVER COIN BELT 30 inches King Kalakaua Coin
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-18...940045?hash=item23babf140d:g:dMcAAOSwJtJb36dr

I cringe whenever I see something like this. These are fairly scarce and valuable coins and the making of this piece destroyed a lot of value.

 

I don't like it either and get quite suspicious when I see precious metal coins all of the same date.

 

Not sure there's much purpose in crying over spilt milk, these Hawaiian coin belts, bracelets, etc. (believe the coins were only produced in silver for circulation with the 1883 date) were almost certainly made over a century ago - all sorts of coins, in any number of countries, were used for various items when they had little age (though sometimes ancient coins were used), most weren't thinking of their future collectible value...

~Cheryl

 

Years ago, there was a coin collector who would now and then drop a rare coin back into circulation.

I remember thinking about that when epoxied-penny-floors were all the rage.

 

I wanted a penny floor so badly !

 

A local guy has a penny CAR. It's only pulled out for parades and the like. Curiosity Inc in Edmonton just put in a penny counter. I don't think Canadian use pennies any more, so might as well get some use out of them.

 

Somebody in my Weird Finds group on Facebook got a free 1973 pennies toilet seat at the end of a sale. She almost fell over when I posted an ebay link where they were selling for hundreds of dollars.

 

I agree. I think coin jewellery is about as old as the use of coins, and certainly older than coin collecting.

In some cultures coin jewellery and coin belts are a sign of allegiance to the king or queen, in others a sign of wealth or an investment.
During WWII and just after there was an hausse in Dutch coin jewellery here in the Netherlands, as a sign of national pride.

The most impressive coin belt I ever saw was on a local Gypsy. It was a thick leather belt with a width of about 25 cm/9.84", covered entirely with overlapping rows of big antique gold coins. No doubt a family heirloom, maybe it was most of the extended family's gold.
He was playing billiards in a village café.

 

Discussion of this listing on a coin forum.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1024337/any-meat-left-on-the-bone-if-this-were-broken-apart

Thought you would find the economics of determining the current numismatic value interesting. I was a bit sensationalist/inflamatory in my tone in the topic title and opening post because I was trying to make a point that it may be unwise in some instances to make jewelry out of antique coins. However in many instances I don't see a problem with the practice, just make sure you do your research first and maybe get a second opinion from someone with niche knowledge of coins.

 

Trust me, jewelry people already understand what it is to destroy one thing to create another. Today's crafters buy up vintage jewelry by the bucketload and their intentions are not honorable.

It doesn't particularly bother me, but I am in the minority.

 

And they make the most disgusting combinations sometimes. I won an antique Pakistani enameled silver pendant that no one wanted because some crafter put it on a necklace of the cheapest new African recycled glass beads. After all, ethnic jewellery is all the same, isn't it.
But the pendant has been rescued.

 

There is a business in my town that will custom make coin rings for people. I have not visited it though. Since coin roll searching is a new hobby of mine. Thought I'd share a recent find. It's a 2005 Kansas quarter. Note themotto says "in god we rust". @Joe2007

 

You child of the devil!

It sounds really beautiful, Davey, and appropriate.

 

I know the feeling.

 

I posted this in the cameo thread some time ago.

 

I gave you a like, which doesn't mean I like it, just that I like that you posted it.
But do I? Really??

 

I know. It kind of takes one's breath away, doesn't it?

And I mean that in the worst possible way.

 

Thanks for the info Davey! I was happy to find it.