THEHOPE DIAMOND

Mysterious, infamous, magnificent, cursed, exciting,

the most famous diamond ever.  

As legend goes it was plucked from the eye of an idol

in India in the 17th Century by a thief that was later murdered for it.

Held by Tavernier until sold to the King of France, Louis the XV for an enormous amount of gold. Passed to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette, we all know that outcome.   To King George IV, who lost it to pay off tremendous debt.  To Henry Phillip Hope, it's namesake

who had no heirs.  Passed to his eldest nephew

Henry Thomas Hope who sold it pay off gambling debts.

Then to Evalyn Walsh McClean by way of Cartier who had

now fashioned it into the incredible necklace it is today.

She never took it off and the curse continued, with the death of her eldest son, in a car accident, her daughter committed suicide at 25, and her dear husband declared insane.  Sold in 1949 to Harry Winston, again to pay off debt, it was donated to the Smithsonian Institute where it is now displayed.  I personally photographed it and it appeared as a flash of light, from every angle I shot. I do believe it has magical power.

lorna davison designs

thrace, abdera 

265-245 BC 

AR DRACHM

In mythology, Abdera was named after Abderus a beloved companion of Hercules who persihed after the hero captured the flesh eating mares of Diomedes.  In the historical record the site on the Thracian coast that would become Abdera was settled in 654BC by colonists from Clazomenae.  

When the Abderites began to produce coins, they chose to portray a griffin, as it was familiar from the coins of their mother city.  

The Laurete head of Apollo within a square

with ABAE and griffin springing TEO

In a handmade 18K yellow gold frame

Athens, attica 449-404BC

AR Tetradrachm

SNGcop31

The coinage of Athens enjoyed a widespread distribution due to a huge production, based on the exploitation of the silver mines of Laurion (Attica) and due to the city state as an important regional power.  The distinctive "owl" coinage of Athens (introduced c.530-510BC)established a long lived iconographic tradition, which was maintained almost invariably on several series for more than two centuries.  With the help of her powerful navy, and through taxation, Athens accomplished to gain pre-eminance in Hellas and achieved a celebrated prosperity.

In Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and justice, rivaled Zeus himself in power and wisdom.  Athena gave the people the olive tree.  The snake and the owl were symbols of her wisdom. 

In excellent condition, set in a handmade 18K yellow

gold frame.  A collectors coin as well as a piece of jewelry.

Very substanstial.

With Steven Battelle certificate of authenticity

2800.00