Coin jewelry has been a favorite gift and addition to jewelry collections for hundreds of years. Not only is coin jewelry beautiful, it tells a rich and ancient story, allowing the wearer to carry a small piece of history whenever he or she wears it.

Coin jewelry is made from a range of ancient coins minted over several centuries. Masada coins, Lily of Jerusalem coins, and the coins of Herod Agrippa are three coins that are made into beautiful coin jewelry.

The Masada coin is a “prutah,” a Jewish coin made of bronze from the time of the First Revolt against the Romans by the Jews. On these coins, the year is stamped in Hebrew, and on the obverse is an amphora, which was a jar with a narrow neck and two handles that was used for carrying oil and wine. On the reverse is a vine leaf and the inscription in Hebrew meaning “the freedom of Zion.” Masada, Herod’s royal citadel, is one of the most important symbols in Jewish history, because during the rebellion Jews chose mass suicide rather than capture by the Romans. The Prutah was the most commonly minted coin of the Jewish kings. It is easy to see why coin jewelry made with this coin is especially meaningful to Jews everywhere.

The so-called Lily of Jerusalem coin was minted around the time when Antiochus captured Jerusalem during the time of Simon Maccabee. Though this cion was not minted by Jewish authorities, it was used in Judea and became the prototype of coins issued by Alexander Jannaeus some 30 years later. The lily is a symbol of Jerusalem, so coin jewelry featuring the Lily of Jerusalem is treasured by Jews and Christians.

Herod Agrippa, who lived from 10 BCE to 44 CE was Herod the Great’s grandson. He is the king Herod referred to in the New Testament book the Acts of the Apostles. According to the historian Josephus, he was known as Agrippa the Great. The Prutah issued by Herod Agrippa depicts a canopy that resembles an umbrella on the obverse with ΆΓΡΙΠΆ BACIΛEWC (King Agrippa in Greek) on the obverse. On the reverse are three ears of barley set between leaves, along with the year. The prutah is used in coin jewelry because of its unique place in history.

Coin jewelry featuring these ancient coins and others from the era is meaningful to both Jews and Christians as a tangible bit of history from their shared Jewish heritage. Such coin jewelry is available as rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and cuff links, and custom coin jewelry can be made from them too.