Featured "Gypsy" coin belt

Coming up at a local auction - out of my usual areas, so I would like your opinions on if it might be worth pursuing (for resale). It is described as an "antique Gypsy belt, with Hungarian/Prussian coins". Only 2 pictures available. One coin shown appears to be Habsburg Queen Maria Theresa, which would be 18th century. Might the metalwork be consistent with this date, or significantly later? Thanks.

 

My guess is later. Maria Theresia coins are used to this day, but imo this is an antique belt. It is beautiful.
Will you be able to see it in person and check if it has any silvermarks?

Whether there is a Gypsy connection, I don't know. Our Romani, both Roma and Sinti, prefer gold, for investment.
I once saw a Sinto with a gold coin belt, made of several rows of gold coins attached to an enormous leather belt. It was very impressive.

 

Thank you so much! I may try to make the trip in to check it out.

 

If you can take photos of the marks, we can check them.
They could be tiny, look for small indentations. The good thing is that the silver mounts and links are smooth, and those are the places where they'll likely be hiding out.

 

when you get it, send it here so I can polish it......I'll send it back gleaming !!!!

it's very nice !

 

It may or may not be Rom. Those coins turn up all over the Eastern end of Europe and the Middle East. They were trade coins minted from the 1780s (IIRC) until WWI, so there are a lot of them. If it goes cheap enough and they're all silver coins, you're good to go regardless.

 

Sorry Davey - I am not sure I understand what you are saying. By "these coins" are you referring to the ones in the belt? And are the ones in your illustration what are referred to as the Maria Theresa thaler (and not the ones in the belt)?

I know absolutely nothing about coins.

 

Thank you.

 

One in the belt seem to say 1766. I'd day it's the Empress only a lot younger.

 

OK, I got the belt. With the help of this wonderful site, I have been able to identify the coins:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?ct=coin

There are 14 coins, most from Poland, others from Saxony, Prussia and Hungary. The earliest are 2 minted in 1667 in Krakow for King John II Casimir Vasa. 4 more are also from the 17th century, 5 from the 18th century, and 3 from the 19th century. The most recent is 1845, minted in Hungary for King Ferdinand V. All are described as standard circulation coins, and not of high enough silver content to have significant bullion value. But some are apparently fairly scarce. (All such information from the Numista site.) No actual thalers among them. Most of the coins are noticeably worn from use.

I have found, on one side loop of each panel of the chain, a teeny tiny mark: F.K. There appears to be another stamp on another loop of each panel, but I cannot make it out using my loop. It might be some numbers, but that may also be my imagination. No part responds to a magnet.

I have not been able to find a comparative example of such an assemblage.

Any ideas of what I should do with it now? I don't think I would consider disassembling it to offer the coins individually - it is just too cool as it is. But I don't know if anyone collects such items.

I can post additional photos, or more info on the individual coins if anyone would find that helpful.

 

the item should remain in tact , as found....imo.

 

Can you post a photo? It could be an Austro-Hungarian mark. Even if it is illegible, the shape can often be recognizable.

I agree, it should remain as is.
If you want to sell it, you need a specialised ethnic jewellery auction. Catawiki has regular ethnic jewellery auctions, although recently their focus has been on Islamic and Indian. Baltic sellers have been able to sneak in recently made Baltic jewellery though, so why not an antique belt.
Make sure the auctioneer appraises it, and set a minimum price. Appraisals are free for Catawiki members.

Maybe @reader knows of ethnic jewellery auctions in the US.

 

TY for the tag AJ but the belt is really way out of my wheelhouse. I’d send images to Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Doyle and Bonhams to see if there’s any interest. Gut feeling is Bonhams is the best shot.

 

I thought so, it is very European. But I thought maybe you knew of specialised ethnic jewellery auctions in the US.
I only know the Catawiki one, which is Dutch-owned but has become international.

 

I will try to find a way to photograph the marks. I have seen others here do similar things successfully.

 

Some people photograph through a loupe or a magnifying glass.