23.6k Gold 1616 German Sophia Ducat Coin Pendant

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This 23.6 karat antique coin is a German Sophia Ducat coin, circa 1616-1816, that was a traditional baptismal token during … Read more This 23.6 karat antique coin is a German Sophia Ducat coin, circa 1616-1816, that was a traditional baptismal token during the Georgian and Victorian eras. The coin was originally minted in 1616 by Elector Johann Georg of Saxony as a tribute to his mother Sophia, who then gifted the coin to her children and grandchildren at Christmastime. Identical versions of the coin continued to be minted for the next two centuries, though always with a date mark for 1616. The coin has beautiful, striking imagery and a high karat gold that has a lovely glow to it. The front of the coin contains the letters IHS, the Greek abbreviation for Jesus that is often seen in religious imagery. Above it is an eye and below it is a bird with outspread wings, a popular heraldic symbol. The images are surrounded by a German inscription that translates to “Blessed is he who experiences joy in his children.” On the reverse side is a monogram of the letters S and G, for Sophia and Johann Georg, surrounded by an inscription that translates to “Help, You Holy Trinity.” A border of tiny tick marks frames the images on the coin, and a patina delineates the imagery and gives it a wonderful depth. The coin has been set in a 14k gold bezel with an oval bail, and is ready to hang on the chain of your choice.

The pendant measures 1” across, plus a 7 x 5 mm bail. It weighs 4.6 grams. The coin is unmarked but acid tests as 23.6 karat gold. The bezel and bail test as 14k. Because all versions of the coin minted from 1616- 1816 contain the date mark 1616, we are only able to date it to sometime during that era. There is a bit of solder from the mount covering one of the sixes in the date mark. See less