Carthaginian Tetradrachm Pendant collar by Arthus Bertrand

Name: Carthaginian Tetradrachm Pendant collar by Arthus Bertrand
Brand: AUric Vintage
SKU: V26-075
Price: 595.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

€595,00

Vintage French Carthaginian Tetradrachm Pendant collar necklace by Arthus Bertrand in Sterling silver. Featuring a Sterling silver medallion modelled on a Carthaginian tetradrachm, a coin first struck over 2,300 years ago. The original depicted the goddess Tanit and the iconic horse of Carthage, symbols of protection, prosperity and strength. Renowned for its medal making, the French maison Arthus Bertrand reimagined this ancient currency as a modern talisman with yellow gold accents. The coin pendant is flanked by ribbed terminals and act as sliders which allow the tapering braided collar to be threaded through. The medallion feels at once archaeological and unmistakably contemporary, the chain is marked 925 and the coin terminals feature the maker's mark of Arthus-Bertrand.

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Looking through the LOUPE

MATERIALS

Silver

AGE

c.2000

SIZE

40cm in length x 1cm width at widest point, coin 2.8cm across x 2.3cm diameter

WEIGHT

42.5 g

MARKS

Marked 925. Maker's mark for Arthus-Bertrand

Carthaginian Tetradrachm Pendant collar by Arthus Bertrand

The coin's design features Hercules, the legendary hero of Greek mythology, depicted in profile to the obverse and draped in the skin of the Nemean lion, a symbol of strength and endurance. The reverse bears the head of a horse, one of the most enduring emblems of Carthage, accompanied by a palm tree and the Punic inscriptionm mhnt, meaning "people of the camp" or "army camp". The palm tree itself forms a phonetic pun, as the Greek word phoinix denotes both the Phoenician people and the date palm, subtly alluding to Carthage's Phoenician heritage.

Diameter:Approx. 25–27 mm
Weight:Approx. 16–17 g
Composition:Silver
Type:Tetradrachm
Date:c. 3rd century BC

Carthaginian Silver Tetradrachm

3rd century BC

France / 1803-

Arthus-Bertrand

This is the unlikely tale of a publisher during the Napoleonic Empire becoming a renowned French jewellery house. Established in 1803 by Claude Arthus-Bertrand, the company eventually moved away from publishing to pursue his father-in-law’s business in military insignia, flags, and medals.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the house became synonymous with excellence in medal-making. It is notably responsible for the manufacture of the Légion d’Honneur medal, one of France’s most prestigious national distinctions, further cementing its place in French cultural history.

By 1937, the maison released its highly anticipated jewellery collection. Building on this success, it continued to evolve, drawing inspiration from the artistic movements that followed throughout the 20th century. In the 2000s, the house introduced its now-iconic coin necklaces, reinterpreting historical medals and symbols into contemporary jewellery that quickly gained popularity for their timeless appeal.

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2000 - 2009

Noughties

If you want to glimpse the opulence of the early 21st century, look no further than its celebrity engagements, those glittering declarations of love that doubled as cultural signposts. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, in their first iteration, sealed their romance with a 6.1-carat fancy pink diamond, less a ring than a headline. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin ushered in the era of the diamond halo, intensifying the sparkle, while Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt chose an Art Nouveau spiral solitaire, delicate yet deliberate, a nod to romance with a studied edge.

There was no ambiguity. More was more. Scale mattered. Presence mattered. Jewellery wasn’t an accent, it was the point. Platinum and white gold dominated, their cool, reflective surfaces offering modern sheen. Earrings stretched longer, swung wider, catching light in motion, whether paired with denim or couture.

Colour found its voice. Turquoise and coral appeared in bold, unapologetic strokes, like punctuation marks against luminous palettes. And yet, diamonds held their throne. They were the ultimate eye-catching tool, used by the powerful and beautiful for centuries.