(#1 is available)
 

AN493.   Here is a 19 inch strand of carnelians, ranging a bit in age - some a few hundred years old, and others over a thousand.  It has a beautiful warm colour with round beads at the front (about 1/2 inch in diameter) more crystal than carnelian.  (The pinkish bead white stripes doesn't really belong on this strand as it is too new)  This could be beautifully restrung as a very notable necklace.   $180.US.   (sold)
  AN494.   The beads on this 24 inch long strand are clearly ancient and well over 1000 years old, many with cloudy bits on the surface coming from long age and contact with various minerals (like calcium) when buried.  These were most likely originally cut in India or region.  I love the richness of colour that they gain over their long life.    $250.US.

   AN336.  This ancient Roman ring is about a size 4 but not really for wearing.  It has a tiny carved seal within it - a profile portrait against clear glass.  It is amazingly small about 5/16 inch long.  This is an amazing piece for a collection.  I haven't done anything to try to clean the ring itself but it seems to be bronze.  $195.US.
   AN337.   There are three different and interesting strands of ancient carnelian beads here.  Strand #1 has 13 inches of a variety of shapes and ages of ancient carnelians as well as a fat bead which is 1 3/8 inches across at its widest.  It is a gorgeous worn ancient bead with clouds of white coating on it formed from years of burial.  That bead can easily be over 2000 years old.  It is a very impressive strand which only needs a few spacer beads or beads at the back to make a necklace.  $425.US.   The next strand of beads #2 - are Bactrian.  There are the typical disc beads, and round beads with the strand measuring a little over 10 inches long.  The central bead is the type that would be carved at the end and used as a seal.  This one is smooth and 3/4 inch tall.  $310.US.   Strand #3 consists of fine, delicate, tubular ancient carnelians with a few odd shapes thrown in - almost 20 inches long.  $250.US.  (#3 is sold)  The strands all came from the mid-East from a Persian dealer.   (#1 & #2 are available)
   AN338.   Here is a beautiful oval flattened Islamic beads.  The swirls of black and white are quite traditional, made with a fine glass and nicely smoothed over time.  From the side as shown in the photo above the bead is almost 3/4 inches tall and 7/8 inch wide.  The bead is 3/8 inch thick with a good sized hole going through it  - it could sit on a cord.   I acquired this from a Persian dealer who generally sells coins from the area.   $155.US.  
   AN339.   This patitinated brass bead was dug up in Bulgaria.  There is still a little dirt inside.   The bead is 1 inch long and 1/2 inch in diameter.  It has an attractive smooth finish to it and could be the centerpiece of a simple necklace or strung onto a cord.  The bead is definitely over 1000 years old but I can't date it any more accurately than that.   $45.US.
   AN341.  This Islamic bead from the Iran area is recently excavated.  It is not fully cleaned as you can see on the photo.  The local museum glass curator suggests that dirt be carefully brushed off but that ancient beads should not be washed.  The bead has clear white raised trails on it and the dark base of the bead has some glistening colour from age peeking through.  The bead is slightly longer than 7/8 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter.  It is a good clear example.   $195.US.

   AN351.   This is a silver Venetian grosso of the Doge Giovanni Dandalo.  AD1280-1289.  On the obverse is Christ enthroned and on the reverse is the Doge and St. Mark Papadopoli.   $50.US.  

   AN358.   This 15 inch long necklace is a combination of different ancient and antique beads with modern silver spacers.  There are some interesting beads to spend time with...   $220.US.   (sold)

   AN359.   Here is a modern strand of facet tourmaline beads with an ancient Medeival pendant.  It is made of bronze, has a coating of patina from the long years of its life and an ancient glass cabochon in the middle.  The pendant is 1 1/2 inches wide.  The necklace is 16 inches long.   $185.US.

  AN360.   Here is a marvellous strand of beads from the Iran or the area nearby.  The necklace is 22 inches long (no clasp, just knotted shut) with 15 1/2 inches of beads on it plus pendant.  The pendant is 1 1/4 inches long.  The necklace beads are mostly ancient turquoise with one small etched agate and four small beads that appear to be gold.  There are two small winged beads as well.  The pendant has a gorgeous skinny agate just under 7/8 inch long, then a slim flat square of nicely coloured agate, and then a wrought metal bead which I am told has a percentage of gold in it.  The metals have not been tested but are certainly ancient beads.  This is quite delicate and beautiful.  $420.US.

  AN361.   This is a beautifully made silver ring with an ancient coin as its centerpiece.  The coin is of Constantius II, Flavius Iulius Constantius minted in the 4th century A.D.  He was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  The ring is 1 1/8 inch across from top to bottom in the image, and the coin is just under 5/8 inch across.  The ring is a size 8.   $75.US.

  AN362.   This is a beautifully made silver ring with an ancient coin as its centerpiece.  The coin is of Constantius II, Flavius Iulius Constantius minted in the 4th century A.D.  He was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  The ring is a little more than 1 1/8 inch across from the top to the bottom of the image, and the coin is just under 5/8 inch across.  The ring is a size 7.5.   $75.US.

  AN366.   This is a simple and attractive silver ring with an ancient coin as its centerpiece.  The coin is of Constantine the Great - Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus from 306-337 A.D.   Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324 Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma and on May 11, 330 he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople, the City of Constantine after Constantine's death in 337.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  The coin is about 13/16 inch across and a size 9.5.   $105.US.   (sold)

  AN372.   This is a beautifully made silver ring with an ancient coin as its centerpiece.  The coin is of Constantius II, Flavius Iulius Constantius minted in the 4th century A.D.   He was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  The coin is just over 11/16 inch across.  The ring is a size 8.   $70.US.

  AN374.   Here is a wonderful ancient fibula set with a blue glass stone.  It comes from the Viking material found in Staraya Ladoga in Russia, in the Saint Petersburg region.  It is strong enough to be used as a fibula but I would be careful not wanting it to bang against anything as there is a certain delicacy to items so old.  The blue glass is set in very well with some decorative metal work around it.  The piece is 2 3/8 inches across and the pin is 2 3/4 inches across.   $225.US.  

  AN380.   Here is a very sweet 1 3/4 inch long chung zi bead (also known as a dzi or gzi bead).   For an excellent and affordable article on Tibetan Zi beads written by the researcher Jamey D. Allen please get a copy of "Arts of Asia" Vol.32 No.4.  There are some excellent photographs of an interesting variety of zi beads as well as Jamey's overview.  These beads are thought to have a magical aspect to them.  It is a mystery as to how they were created and as to whether they fell from skies or were unearthed between the rocks.  Good zis are ancient and made of agate like this one.  These beads are highly respected by the Tibetans (and by zi collectors alike) and are worn as a protective ornament.  These beads were "etched" or coloured to give them their decoration.  There are more complex ones with different names having zig zags or or circles on them.  Myself, I love the chung zis with their simple bands on them.  This bead has a couple of old chips in it that you can see on the photo.  They are nicely worn and simply part of the life of the beads.   $800.US.

  AN381.   Here is an unusual strand of cone shaped ancient glass beads.  I haven't had beads like this before - they have quite large holes, generally between 1/8 and 1/4 inch across.  The yellow cone in the preview image on the left has a diameter of just under 1 inch and is 3/8 inch tall.  The strand is 18 inches long.  The pinkish smooth bead is stone, and most of the spacers are ancient as well.  These beads would be Roman period or older.  They show the textured finish of ancient glass that had been buried.   $550.US.

  AN384.   Here are three stone spindle whorls carved in ancient times found in Anatolia.  The largest one is 1 1/8 inches across.  They can easily be used as beads.  The three beads are part of a collection and will be sold together for $225.US.

  AN385.   This is a group of ten Neolithic stone beads similar to the ones in the inside cover of "the History of Beads" coming out of Anatolia.  They are thousands of years old.  The group of ten beads is being sold as a collection - it was acquired in the early nineties with the help of ancient coin dealers.  Each bead is significantly different from each other so quite museum like when viewed.  The largest bead is a flat oval one 1 1/2 inches long and 7/8 inches wide.  Some of the beads have patterning on them and the very smallest is a seal bead with a branch like design on it.  These feel very smoothed having been touched for many years before they wound up being buried.  There are even wear marks on the stone bead holes.   $1200.US/the collection.

  AN386.   These two Celtic beads are sold together.  The image is enlarged - the beads are actually just over 3/8 inch across and one is a little thicker than the other, both having a single hole going through.  The beads have the typical circle patterns on them (on both sides) and are made of bronze.  They each have a different shade of green tarnish to them.   They could easily be used to make a pair of earrings.  It is hard to date them but a few hundred years is certain.   $120.US/pair

  AN387.   This is an ancient pale carnelian Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal.  It portrays Ishtar, the sun goddess, in her starry radiance--standing surrounded by a nimbus of stars and wearing a horned miter.  Her long robe is open in front revealing a short, bordered garment.  A worshipper in a long fringed garment points to the goddess with his right hand and holds his left palm upward.  Behind the goddess is a naked scorpion man wearing a miter.  His hands are raised up, possibly to support the winged disc (symbol of the sun) above him.  In the field are a crescent and eight globes. The scorpion man (of the constellation Scorpio), in supporting the winged disc, illustrates his super human and protective nature.  The worshipper may be a Neo-Assyrian king of the 9th or 8th century B.C., the period when this drilled style was favoured in Assyria.  This seal was worn strung around the neck as a bead. 1 1/16" long.      (sold)

  AN388.   This is a small rectangular seal bead, and I do mean "small".  It is 7/16 inches long, 3/8 inch wide and 5/16 inches tall.  It is lightly crusted with a patination, and age has made the patterns look quite vague.  I believe that the larger images are figures of people judging by the moulded image, but I don't know.   $65.US.

  AN389.   These two strands of beads were put together by the same bead artist with beads that all look excellent together.  (unfortunately they are on fishing line and need restringing with nice clasps as well)  I did not want to separate them and will only sell them as a pair.  The central bead of the top strand is a "morfia" made between the 9th and 11th centuries possibly in Fustat, Egypt (5/8 inch long - 15mm - and 5/8 inch in diameter).  The beads were made of twisted polychrome glass rods.  These beads are highly prized in Mauritania constantly increasing in value.  The bead has 4 pitted holes on it - you can see two in the image to the left.  The other two are quite small - and even including that, this bead is in much better condition than many.  On that same strand are feather beads, then two yellow Islamic eye beads. They are in excellent condition, one being very colourful with red and turquoise "suns".  The next major beads are green oval Venetians with gold stripes and squiggles on them.  They are lightly worn so that the gold has faded a little.  After that is a range of Venetians in mixed condition, with gold/glass beads between, some ancient and some a hundred or so years old.  The green cornerless cubes are rather nice as well.  The back beads on the strand are ancient faience from Egypt.   On the lower strand is another oval Venetian with gold (13/16 inch long), millefiores from the twenties or so, spotted Venetians and more cornerless cubes.  The spacer beads are a mix of faience and glass which all seems to be ancient.   Strand #1 - 24 inches long.   Strand #2 - 22 inches long.      $750.US./for both strands sold together.

  AN390.   I have a group of 14 Sassanian bead seals here.  They are very tricky as they are often imitated.  There are three on this strand that I have doubts about and they are different sizes but have essentially the same shape.  If you count the beads from the top of the strand in the first photo, those beads are #4, #8 and #9.  The rest of the beads look good.  Bead #3 is quite smoothed over and an image cannot be seen, #12 has no flat side or image, and #13 and #14 just have the vaguest memories of an image.  This is a great collection though and could be the focus of a cream & caramel coloured necklace.  $1250.US.

  AN391.   Here are nine ancient beads from the Roman period - in beautiful shades of turquoise and green.  They are all made of glass with the same technique pressing into the side of the hot glass over and over to make this shape.  The strand is 3 7/8 inches long.  The largest bead is 5/8 inch in diameter.   $350.US.

  AN392.   This is a rather wonderful Byzantine pendant.  I had cast copies of it for sale in the past but this is the original that I took a mould from.  The brass pendant (the surface is lightly coloured by time) is 1 3/4 inches tall and has a very graceful shape.  There are two loops at the top for stringing.  The piece is in excellent condition.   $180.US.   (sold)

  AN393.   This bronze piece is probably an Islamic design (over 800 years old) that was probably originally some kind of belt ornament.  I has a very gentle curve to it, and graceful cut-outs.  There are no hanging loops but the top cut-outs can be used to put a cord through.  The piece is just under 1 7/8 inches across and 1 5/8 inches tall.  It has a great dark green patina to it - I do like to protect patinas by careful wear.   $150.US.

  AN394.   There are four pieces here.  #1 is a stamped bronze piece 1 3/8 inches tall with an interesting floral design on it.  It has no way to fasten it, but a piece could be glued against the back, perhaps a panel that allows a string to pass behind it.   $30.US.   #2 is the end of a Byzantine belt - the photo is of the rougher side, the other side is quite perfect.  The ending that the leather belt would be inserted into is open so that a thick ribbon or leather piece could be used again.  The piece is 1 5/8 inches tall and has a beautiful dark green patina to it.   $135.US.   #3 is a very typical Byzantine cross.  It seems that a zillion of these were made out of bronze in the 8th to 10th centuries--all with the same circles in the center and on the arms of each cross...  They are so similar that they could have almost been made from the same one mold - and were popular with a large proportion of people living then.   $150.US.   #4 is some kind of fitting that I can't quite decide on.  It has a beautiful pale green patina, is a little over 1 3/8 inches tall, has 4 stringing holes, and is flat on the back.   $65.US.   (#1, #3 & #4 are sold - #2 is available)

  AN395.   Here is a bronze Medeival thimble.  It is open at the top and at the bottom so interesting as beads could pass through it.  The piece is 11/16 inches tall.  I like the way the texture has been made by pin points in an interesting pattern.  One can use it in jewellery or one can use it as a thimble like it was used in the past.   $45.US.

  AN399.   Here is a small collection of small ancient beads, all 1000 years or older.  When lined up they measure 3 1/8 inches long with the largest (pulled stripes) being 1/2 inch long.  There is a nice mosaic bead of brick red and white, as well as eye beads.   $250.US.   (on hold)

  AN400.   This strand of ancient Roman horned eye glass beads were excavated in the area of the Black Sea in Europe.  Most of the beads are blue, a few have dark red cores.  The eyes are mostly yellow with blue or green central spots on them.  A few are whitish from the devitrification of the buried glass.  These beads probably date to 200BC or so.  When I acquired the beads I took a chance and cleaned them as they were fully white - and I managed to clean much of that surface colouration off.  There are 13 inches of beads and would be best strung on a natural cord with knots between the beads to protect them.  The largest beads are 5/16 of an inch or so in diameter.    $1200.US.   

  AN403.   I have a series of ancient rings (almost all are bronze) which I collected 20 years ago or so.  They are wearable with one thing to keep in mind.  If they are worn often the patina (a coloured coating building up on the ring over many years) will wear down and the metal itself will show again.  It is best to maintain the patina as part of the history of the piece.  

  AN404.   There are three more rings here, each of a distinctive style.  Ring #1 has a thick and well decorated band.  There are small bits of etching, relief and design all around the band culminating in a sprue decorated with a few diagonal lines.  The bezel of the ring is flower shaped and has a cross type design impressed into it with an engraver's tool. 

  AN405.   There are two ancient rings here.  #1 is a flanged ring typical of early Roman ones.  The catalog of the British Museum collection of ancient rings illustrates a few similar types--often cast in gold, but also in silver and bronze.  This ring fits beautifully on one of the smallest finger of a woman's hand, and is surprisingly very comfortable.  It has a simple design carved into the circular bezel, which may be a very abstraced portrait. I would place this ring around the 3rd Century A.D.  size 5.   $195.US.   #2 is quite interesting in its construction.  It has a raised opening where a stone must have sat over a thousand years ago.  One could fasten in a correctly sized round cabochon.  I don't know what the hole across the ring is for, but think it looks great.  size 7   $110.US.

  AN406.   Ring #1 is bronze with the original blue glass stone sitting in it.  size 5.5   $95.US.   #2 is a bronze ring with a brown patina on it.  It has a centerpiece of a blue glass stone with an image carved into it.  It is too worn though to see what was pictured there.  The ring is oval so difficult to measure exactly.  approximately size 5.5   $125.US.   #3 is a silver oval ring - very traditional in Roman times - with a clear image of a standing figure carved into the red oval cabochon.  It is very tiny with an opening at the back and a size 3 or so.   $110.US.

  AN407.   #1 is an ancient ring with a floral design on it.  It has a crack across the back so is not in perfect condition - and is a size 6.5   $35.US.   #2 is a very perfect ring - it looks simple from the photo but it has a very beautiful image carved into the round front to be used as a seal.  It has a wonderful creature with lots of detail on it - it looks like a crouched lion with a mane and something over its head.  I copied the image onto a moulding material but it didn't come out as sharply as it really is.  Click here.  In the enlargement you can also see the ring cast in gold.  I don't remember the karat of the gold but it is in the 20k range.  size 5.5  $245.US for the original ring, and $300.US for the copy in gold.      #3 is a tiny and delicate ring.  It has a small 3 step pyramid on the top which is funnily enough a little crooked...  so when you look at it from the top it is not exactly square, but very slightly tilted to the diagonal...  it gives it a sweet and quirky look.  This originally bronze ring is probably late Roman or early Byzantine--we'll say from the 5th to 7th Century A.D.  size 8   $45.US.   (#1 & #3 are sold)

  AN408.   This is a heavy bronze ring made for one of the smaller fingers of a man's hand...  It has a dark green patination but one can see the brass underneath at corners.  There is some delicate etching around the bezel, and a simple pattern on the top, of two swirls meeting...  probably symbolizing harmony, balance, and perhaps infinity. The back of the ring where the original sprue was (the channel where the molten metal was poured into the original mold of the ring) still has a low remnant of the sprue which has been shaped and carved with a flower design.  This ring is a very collectible piece.  size 9.5   $350.US.

  AN409.   This is rather an amazingly shaped ring - the scalloped shape of it is very unusual and I think with the the short bar at the bottom it was made to be used as a pendant (a cord could be tied there) as well as a ring.  The 1/4 inch tall section has a seal carved into it.  In the ancient days distinctive seal images (this one is a small bird with large feet, and three dots under it...) were important as signatures in the signing of documents.     size 7.5    $250.US.

   AN410.   This Byzantine cross from Bulgaria has only one hinge attached to the top portion of the cross so can't be hung upright as is unless you can attach something to the broken hinge - it does have two secure loops at the opposite end.  This would normally have been only the front half of the cross.  The hinge at the bottom would have attached the front to a nearly identical (but undecorated) back piece.  The loops at the top would have interlocked so that when a cord was passed through, the two sides would remain closed.  Inside this reliquary cross a pilgrim or a religious devotee would have placed items of devotional and spiritual importance.  These crosses are found broken more often than not, and continued to be highly valued and still worn in that state...  2 1/2" high   $350.US.  

  AN411.   These four beads are extremely rare.  They have been identified by an expert in the field as being ancient beads from Mitanni.  This was a state in Northern Syria dating from 1500BC to 1300BC so this is among the earliest glass.  Trade routes passed through the area and many items passed through.  Necklaces were popular during that period with glass, gems and stones.  The tallest bead is a little over 1 1/4 inches tall.  It has an old cut in it that you can see in the photo and a little chipping around the bead holes.  The second bead has an old chip which you can see on the photo.  The smallest bead is 15/16 inches tall and in excellent condition.  The last bead has a chip at one end and some irridescence has formed there many many years ago.  I have photographed the beads with the damaged sides showing (even though it is old damage and part of the history of the beads) - the other sides have no problems.  The group of 4 beads is  $500.US.  

  AN412.   Here is a very delicate, very beautiful, with intricate beads - strand of ancient faience from Iran.  The colours are pale and interesting and a lot of the beads have cross-hatching, lines, dots or dashes on them.  The pendant is 1 1/4 inches long and there are 17 1/2 inches of beads.  The string is 23 inches long so some people can slip it over their head.  You can see the same type of faience on page 105 of "Collectible Beads".   $480.US.  

  AN415.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantius II (Flavius Julius Constantius - Caesar, 323-337;  Augustus, 337 - 361 AD).  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Gattle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, he is not remembered as a restorer of unity, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.  Size 9.5.   $68.US.

  AN416.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantine the Great (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus  306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324 Constantine announced his dcision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma and on May 11, 330 he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople - the City of Constantine, after Constantine's death in 337.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  Size 6.   $78.US.   (sold)

  AN417.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantius II (Flavius Julius Constantius - Caesar, 323-337;  Augustus, 337 - 361 AD).  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Gattle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, he is not remembered as a restorer of unity, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.  Size 10.   $108.US.

  AN418.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantine the Great (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus  306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324 Constantine announced his dcision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma and on May 11, 330 he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople - the City of Constantine, after Constantine's death in 337.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  Size 11.   $138.US.   (sold)

  AN419.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Licinius (Flavius Galerius Valerius Liinianus Licinius  308-324AD).  Of Dacian peasant origin, born in Moesia Superior, Licinius accompanied his close friend the Emperor Galerius on the Persian expedition in 297.  Galerius elevated Licinius to the rank of Augustus in the West on November 11, 308.  He received as his immediate command the provinces of Illyricum, Thrace and Pannonia (the Western half of the Roman Empire).  Size 11.   $158.US.   (sold)

  AN420.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantius II (Flavius Julius Constantius - Caesar, 323-337;  Augustus, 337 - 361 AD).  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Gattle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, he is not remembered as a restorer of unity, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.  Size 9.   $68.US.

  AN421.   This silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantius II (Flavius Julius Constantius - Caesar, 323-337;  Augustus, 337 - 361 AD).  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Gattle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman History.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church, he is not remembered as a restorer of unity, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.   Size 9.   $78.US.

  AN422.   This sterling silver ring (image enlarged) has a bronze coin of Constantius Gallus (Flavius Claudius Constantius Gallus 325/326 - 354AD) the son of Julius Constantius by his first wife Galla.  Gallus' paternal grandparents were Western Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and his second wife Flavia Maximiana Theodora.  Julius Constantius was also a half-brother of Roman Emperor Constantine I, and thus Gallus was a first cousin of Emperors Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans.  Size 7.   $86.US.

  AN423.   These silver earrings feature two different bronze coins.  One coin is of Valens and the other is of Constantius II.  From the top of the earwire to the bottoms of the coins the earrings measure 1 9/16 inches tall.   $138.US.

  AN424.   These silver earrings feature two different bronze coins.  One coin is of Valens and the other is of Constantius II.  From the top of the earwire to the bottoms of the coins the earrings measure 1 1/2 inches tall.   $108.US.

  AN425.   These silver earrings feature two different bronze coins.  One coin is of Constantius II and the other is of Valens.  From the top of the earwire to the bottoms of the coins the earrings measure 1 1/2 inches tall.   $128.US.

  AN426.   These silver stud earrings feature two bronze coins of Constantius II.  The coins average 5/8 in height.   $98.US.

  AN445.   This size 8 ring is quite wonderful as the bronze coin flips on it, so that you can see one side or the other.  The coin is one of Constantine the Great (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) (306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324, Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma.  On May 11, 330, he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople.  The city was renamed again when the Emperor died in 337 as the City of Constantine.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.   $68.US.   (sold)

  AN446.   This size 11 ring has a bronze coin of Valens.  (Flavius Julius Valens) (364-378AD)  Valens is credited with the commission of a short history of the Roman State.  This work, produced by Valens' secretary Eutropius, and known with the name Breviarium ab Urbe condita, tells the story of Rome from its founding.  According to some historians, Valens was motivated by the necessity of learning Roman history so that he, the royal family and their appointees might better mix with the Roman Senatorial class.  Valens was sometimes known as the Last True Roman Emperor.  His successor was Theodosius I.   $98.US.   (sold)

  AN447.   This size 10 ring has an interesting bronze coin sit into it.  This is a coin commemorating Romulus and Remus the traditional founders of Rome.  They appear in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia with the god of war - Mars.  Romulus slew Remus ove a dispute about which one of the two brothers had the support of the local deities to rule the new city and give it his name.  The name they gave the city was Rome.  The twins suckling from the wolf are generally on coins from the Constantine era, circa 306-324AD as a commemorative issue representing the founders of Rome.   $160.US.

  AN448.   This is a smaller ring, a size 6.  The coin is one of Constantine the Great.  (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) (306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324, Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma.  On May 11, 330, he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople.  The city was renamed again when the Emperor died in 337 as the City of Constantine.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  $88.US.   (sold)

  AN449.   This ring is a size 7 and set with a bronze coin of Licinius.  (Flavius Galerius Valerius Licinianus Licinius) (308-324AD)  Of Dacian peasant origin, born in Moesia Superior, Licinius accompanied his close friend the Emperor Galerius on the Persian expedition in 297.  Galerius elevated Licinius to the rank of Augustus in the west on November 11, 308.  He received as his immediate command the provinces of Illyricum, Thrace and Pannonia (the western half of the Roman Empire).   $84.US.

  AN450.   Maximianus (Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus) (308-313AD)  He was originally a peasant named Daia, the nephew of Galerius, his predecessor.  He rose to high distinction after he had joined the army, and in 305 he was adopted by his maternal uncle Galerius.  He was raised to the rank of Caesar with the governments of Syria and Aegyptus.  In 308 after the elevation of Licinius to Augustus, Maximinus and Constantine were declared filii Augustorum (sons of the Augusti).   $128.US.

  AN451.   The next group of coin pendants are set with Widows Mites.  (103-76BC Bibilical coins)  "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury:  and many that were rich cast in much.  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two Mites...  And he called unto him his disciples and saith unto them - Verily I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  for all they did cast in of their abundance:  but she of her want did cast in all she had."  Mark 12:41-44   $98.US.   (sold)

  AN452.   Widows Mite set in silver.  See description above.   $88.US.   (sold)

  AN453.   Widows Mite set in silver.  See description above.   $72.US.   (sold)

  AN454.   Widows Mite set in silver.  See description above.   $88.US.

  AN455.   Widows Mite set in silver.  See description above.   $88.US.

  AN456.   This pendant is of Constantinius II.  (Flavius Julius Constantius) (Caesar 323-337; Augustus 337-361AD)  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church.  He is not remembered as a restorer of unity though, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.   $52.US.

  AN457.   This pendant is of Constantinius II.  (Flavius Julius Constantius) (Caesar 323-337; Augustus 337-361AD)  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church.  He is not remembered as a restorer of unity though, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.   $88.US.

  AN458.   This pendant is of Constantinius II.  (Flavius Julius Constantius) (Caesar 323-337; Augustus 337-361AD)  Constantius was the second of the three sons of Constantine the Great.  Constantius eventually met and crushed Magnentius in the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history.  Constantius took an active part in the affairs of the Christian church.  He is not remembered as a restorer of unity though, but as a heretic who arbitrarily imposed his will on the church.   $52.US.

  AN459.   This pendant is of Constantine the Great.  (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) (306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324, Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma.  On May 11, 330, he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople.  The city was renamed again when the Emperor died in 337 as the City of Constantine.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  $98.US.   (sold)

  AN460.   This pendant is of Constantine the Great.  (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) (306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324, Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma.  On May 11, 330, he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople.  The city was renamed again when the Emperor died in 337 as the City of Constantine.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  $54.US.   (sold)

  AN461.   This pendant is of Constantine the Great.  (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) (306-337AD).  Constantine was best known for being the first Christian Roman Emperor.  In 324, Constantine announced his decision to transform Byzantium into Nova Roma.  On May 11, 330, he officially proclaimed the city the new capital of the Roman Empire.  The city was renamed Constantinople.  The city was renamed again when the Emperor died in 337 as the City of Constantine.  It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years.  $76.US.   (sold)

  AN462.   This is a good sized pendant of Maximinus.  (Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus) (308-313AD)  He was originally a peasant named Daia, the nephew of Galerius, his predecessor.  He rose to high distinction after he had joined the army, and in 305 he was adopted by his maternal uncle Galerius.  He was raised to the rank of Caesar with the governments of Syria and Aegyptus.  In 308 after the elevation of Licinius to Augustus, Maximinus and Constantine were declared filii Augustorum (sons of the Augusti).   $88.US.   (sold)

  AN463.   This is a pendant of Maximinus.  (Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximinus) (308-313AD)  He was originally a peasant named Daia, the nephew of Galerius, his predecessor.  He rose to high distinction after he had joined the army, and in 305 he was adopted by his maternal uncle Galerius.  He was raised to the rank of Caesar with the governments of Syria and Aegyptus.  In 308 after the elevation of Licinius to Augustus, Maximinus and Constantine were declared filii Augustorum (sons of the Augusti).   $88.US.

  AN464.   This is a pendant of Valentinian I.  (Flavius Valentinianus) (364-375AD)  He was the Roman Emperor from 364 until his death.  Valentinian is often referred to as the "last great western emperor".  Valentinian's chief work was guarding the frontiers and establishing military positions.  Valentinian was a Christian but permitted liberal religious freedom to all his subjects, proscribing only some forms of rituals such as particular types of sacrifices and banning the practice of magic...   $68.US.

  AN465.   This pendant is set with a coin of Licinius.  (Flavius Galerius Valerius Licinianus Licinius) (308-324AD)  Of Dacian peasant origin, born in Moesia Superior, Licinius accompanied his close friend the Emperor Galerius on the Persian expedition in 297.  Galerius elevated Licinius to the rank of Augustus in the west on November 11, 308.  He received as his immediate command the provinces of Illyricum, Thrace and Pannonia (the western half of the Roman Empire).   $58.US.   (sold)

  AN466.   This pendant is set with a coin of Licinius.  (Flavius Galerius Valerius Licinianus Licinius) (308-324AD)  Of Dacian peasant origin, born in Moesia Superior, Licinius accompanied his close friend the Emperor Galerius on the Persian expedition in 297.  Galerius elevated Licinius to the rank of Augustus in the west on November 11, 308.  He received as his immediate command the provinces of Illyricum, Thrace and Pannonia (the western half of the Roman Empire).    $78.US.

  AN467.   This pendant has a coin of Theodosius I (The Great) (Flavius Theodosius) (379-395AD)  Reuniting the eastern and western portions of the empire, Theodosius was the last emperor of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empire.  After his  death, the two parts split permanently.  He is also known for making Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire.   $52.US.

  AN468.   This pendant has a coin of Theodosius I (The Great) (Flavius Theodosius) (379-395AD)  Reuniting the eastern and western portions of the empire, Theodosius was the last emperor of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empire.  After his  death, the two parts split permanently.  He is also known for making Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire.   $52.US.

  AN469.   This is a pendant with a coin of Faustina the Elder.  (Annia Galeria Faustina)  Wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, Emperor from 138-161AD.  Throughout her life Faustina as a private citizen and an empress was involved in assisting with charities, the poor and sponsoring in the education of Roman children, particularly of Roman girls.  She founded a charity called Puellae Faustinianae or Girls of Faustina which assisted orphaned girls.  She can be viewed as one of the most moral, stable and respected empresses in the history of the Roman Empire.    $76.US.

  AN470.   This pendant has a coin (after 146BC) of Thasos, an island off the coast of Thrace in the northern part of the Aegeon Sea.  On the obverse is an image of Dionysus a major figure of Greek mythology: the god of wine, the inspirer of ecstacy, and one of the twelve Olympians.  The divine mission of Dionysus was to mingle the music of the aulos and to bring an end to care and worry.  He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted by the Romans.  On the reverse is Herakles.    $98.US.

  AN471.   This pendant is set with a facet amethyst of a rich purple colour as well as a coin of the Crusades.  The Crusades were a series of military expeditions that continued on and off for several hundred years from 1095AD until about the 14th century.  Over twenty "official" Crusades were launched with varying degrees of success.  The Crusades originally had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule and were launched in response to a call from the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine Empire.   $120.US.   (sold)

  AN472.   This pendant is set with a coin of the Crusades.  The Crusades were a series of military expeditions that continued on and off for several hundred years from 1095AD until about the 14th century.  Over twenty "official" Crusades were launched with varying degrees of success.  The Crusades originally had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule and were launched in response to a call from the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine Empire.   $78.US.

  AN473.   This pendant (where to coin twirls on its spindles) has a coin of the Winged Victory.  In Roman mythology Victoria was the personification/Goddess of victory.  She is the Roman version of the Greek goddess Nike.  Unlike the Greek Nike, Victoria was a major part of Roman society.  Multiple temples were erected in her honour and a vast cult existed for hundreds of years worshipping her.  When her statue was removed in 382AD by  emperor Gratianus there was much anger in Rome.  She was normally worshipped by triumphant generals returning from war.   $72.US.   (sold)

  AN474.   This pendant features a large coin of the Byzantine Empire.  Some date the beginning of the Byzantine Empire at 476AD after the Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus.  After the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453AD the Roman Empire completely fell.  The terms Byzantine Empire (a historiographical term used since the 19th century) and Eastern Roman Empire of the Middle Ages.  The "M" on the reverse of the bronze coin represents the denomination 40 nummi.    $148.US.

  AN475.   There are 8 ancient eye beads here - they are often called Roman but the bead researchers seem to now agree that they are most likely Islamic.  These are in excellent condition with the smallest one measuring 9/16 inch across and the largest is marginally under 3/4 inch across.  These would make an excellent centerpiece for a necklace.   $480.US/for the group.

  AN476.   Here are some richly coloured Hebron glass beads.  They have been oiled with mineral oil (that is the habit with some dealers) to avoid having them dry too easily and to bring out the colour.  The strands each have an average of 21 inches of beads on them.  These are wound beads which most likely used sand from the region of Hebron, an ancient glass making center.  These beads are most likely over 500 years old.   $160.US/each strand.   (the blue strand is available, the others are sold)

  AN477.   This is a delicately made necklace of shell beads made over 2000 years ago. It is 18 inches long with a pendant of 1 inch by 3/4 inch.  I would restring this myself, put a clasp on it and find it very magical to wear.   $380.US.

  AN478.   Here is a monumentally beautiful strand of banded agate beads.  This is 24 inches long with quite large beads in the front section.  There are a few odd beads on the strand including the central one which is not banded but a dark toffee colour.  Close by is another dark toffee bead.  Two beads further from that one is a banded bead that looks like it is made of glass.  The largest actual ancient banded agates are to each side of the central bead, averaging slightly over 3/4 inch in diameter.  Halfway down the strand the beads average 1/2 inch in diameter, and the smallest beads at the end are 5/16 inch in diameter.  - $1550.US.   (sold)

  AN479.   Islamic glass beads.  $160.US/each strand   (#1 is sold)

  AN480.   Islamic glass beads.  $160.US/each strand

  AN481.   Islamic glass beads.  $135.US/each strand   (#3 is on hold, the others are sold)

  AN482.   Islamic glass beads.  $135.US/each strand

  AN483.  Islamic glass beads.   $95.US/each strand   (#2 is available)

  AN484.   This is a very attractive ancient holed coin.  (holed in antiquity).  It is bronze and 1 inch in diameter.  I was originally told that it is a coin of the Crusades but truly know nothing.  If a coin researcher sees this, I would love to know exactly where the coin is from and what it represents.  $75.US.

  AN485.   This ancient bronze buckle came out of Bulgaria.  It has a brownish patina on it, and will hang nicely as a pendant as it has a 3/8 inch long post behind the point at the top, with a hole going through it where the stringing cord could go.  It is attractively decorates with delicate little lines, still visible under the patina.  The piece is 2 inches tall.  $95.US.

  AN486.   This is a heavy and attractive bronze piece (patinated dark brown) measuring 2 1/2 inches tall.  At the top it has two bars going up with a hole in each one.  The stringing cord can go right through the two of them for a secure suspension.   $75.US.   (sold)

  AN487.   The green patination on this ancient bronze piece is a great colour.  It has a little crusting from age on it as well, as it has been long buried in Bulgaria.  The piece is 1 7/8 inches tall.  It has three tabs in the back (2 at the top, and 1 at the bottom) which will make suspension as a pendant easy.   $95.US.

  AN488.   This ancient bronze piece came from Bulgaria.  It has a mossy green patination.  It has three posts/tabs in the back with holes in them - 2 at the top, and 1 at the bottom.  The piece is slightly under 1 3.4 inches tall.   $95.US.  

  AN489.   This is a very old bone strand.  It is hundreds of years old.  The prayer beads are just over 20 inches long with a 2 1/2 inch long pendant (bead and tassle)   $195.US.

  AN436.   There are four Islamic blue bead strands here.  These are cut glass beads and I have always liked the pattern created on them by the pulling of the glass before cutting - those lines on the beads that give a distinctive delicate texture.  The bead strands average 24 inches in length and are nicely graduated.  $145.US/each strand.   (#1, #2 & #4 are sold, #3 is available)

  AN437.  Here is an interesting pair of hair rings from the Roman Empire.  After the amount of years that have passed it is not obviously clear what the metal is - it might easily be silver whose surface has changed after long burial.   There are some nice details of design on these pieces to give an attractive look when wound around curls or braids - elastic bands didn't exist close to 2000 years ago...   One of the loops has a little metal ring around it so perhaps something decorative was once attached.  The rings measure about 1 1/4 inches across.   $230.US/pair.

  AN438.   These 40 unusual and interesting Roman ancient glass gaming tokens would be perfect for a jeweller, to set into earrings (there are some that match nicely), pendants or rings...  working with an ancient treasure creates one of a kind pieces with a story to tell that is 2000 years old.  The pieces have been gone through by an authority in the field and some of the images have been exactly identified and some have thoughts of what they might represent.  Some of the glass pieces have clear images (a metal die would have been pressed into the molten glass to form the image) and others are worn to some extent, or simply unclear.  They are all fascinating though and all would work well in jewellery.  To size them - - the envelopes that they are lying on (with identification written on them) are 2 inches square.  These can be references in books on ancient glass in museum or reference libraries.   $600.US./40 tokens    (sold)

  AN439.   This strand of ancient glass beads from Afghanistan encompasses some of my favourite colours.  The shades of blue have a tinge of green to them reminding me of certain flowers or the colours of the ocean.  Because the beads are old and worn, and perhaps buried for many years, the little dips, crevasses and airholes have been darkened by earth or oils.  I love the texture that is created.  The dark green bead (you can see some of it in the preview photo to the left) is stone and has been carved with slashes of lines on one side.  The glass beads are very individual in shapes and sizes to create a one-of-a-kind strand.  This is slightly over 18 inches long so perfect for a necklace and if there was a little silver or gold contrasting with the blue, that would be even better!!!   $300.US.

  AN440.   This is a very unusual piece and to verify exactly what it is I visited the ancient coin curator at a national museum.  His opinion was the same as a well reputed dealer in ancient coinage.  This piece was a mystery to me at first.  I found this in a market in Mexico City so it travelled in an interesting direction.  I bought it because it was obviously very beautiful, obviously hand struck and not cast, and good silver - very attractive to look at and obviously having a history to it as it has been lightly worn.  This is a "copy" of a coin in a sense - but it is not cast, and a mold was not made of a coin to copy.  Instead a piece of metal was carved into the designs on each side of this coin and it was struck in the same way as ancient coins were struck.  That process leaves wonderful cracks around the sides of the coin.  The original series of coins are tetradrachms from Sicily, Gela - struck circa 480BC.  This coin has the same imagery re-interpreted by the artist carving it but was made in the late 1700s or early 1800s most likely for a historic show about the coinage.

  AN441.   This is a wonderful coin, a silver coin from Tyrol, Austria struck in 1610 and turned into a "box thaler".  The thaler portrays Emperor Rudolph II near the end of his reign.  He lived from July 18 1552 to Jan. 20 1612.  He had been the King of Hungary and Bohemia, the Archduke of Austria and the Holy Roman Emperor.  He was the eldest son and successor of Maximilian II, and his mother was Maria of Spain, a daughter of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal.  On the obverse is a wreathed and armoured bust right with large collar and ornate decorations - wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece.  The translation of the writing says "Rudolf II, by the grace of God, Emperor of the Romans, Ever Augustus, King of Germany, Hungary and Bohemia" (using short forms)

AN004.  The centerpiece of this contemporary necklace is a bronze piece of a roman lock plate.  It has a rich patina and concentric circles inscribes on the front.  The plaque is about 2" square and is complimented by 18" of facet garnets--again, hand cut in India, where methods of stone cutting have not changed since ancient days.  (the purple glare is caused by the scanner-the garnets are a normal garnet colour)  $145.US.

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