Berber silver coins pectoral, Morocco

Pectoral made of high-grade silver coins and coral, from the Middle Atlas in Morocco.

These coin chest ornaments came into fashion after the older and lighter silver niello ones disappeared due to lack of skills in the region. Also, the use of coins coincided with the radical change of tribal economic profile in the region, being semi-nomads with very large sheep herds they became very wealthy and amassed huge fortunes in silver coins when they were able to sell cattle, wool and leather much more easily and directly to urban centers when the French occupied the country and made trade smoother and safer.

From first half of XXth century, post 1925 as suggested by the rams head hallmark.

Dimensions:

Heigth: 17 cm (6,69 in)m
Width: 21 cm (8,27 in)
Total length of the chain: 74 cm (29,13 in)
Diameter of the biggest coins: 30 mm

Reference:

“Bijoux du Maroc” Jacques and Marie-Rose Rabaté, Edisud 1996

MAR151

SOLD