S9: Poseidon stickpin

The image on this stickpin was taken from a small bronze coin of Philip V of Macedon, from around 220 B.C. Poseidon, god of the Sea (known to the Romans as Neptune) is seen glaring towards the right, his long hair streaming behind him in a manner calculated to recall flowing water. His reign was the last great one of the dynasty epitomised by his ancestor philip II and of course Alexander the Great. After the disastrous battle of Cynoscephali against the encroaching power of Rome in 197 B.C. the days of the independant kingdom were numbered. Though he did leave the throne to his son Perseus, this unfortunate was to rule only a decade, to lose his throne forever to the nemesis from Italy and end his days two years later in ignominious captivity. How far the kingdom that once ruled the world had fallen!

S10: Winged Victory stickpin

Designed after a coin of 92 B.C. issued by the Roman Republican triumvir (mintmaster) Marcus Porcius Cato (the grandson of the famous Cato the Elder who urged the complete destruction of Carthage), this stickpin features the lovely image of a seated winged victory. This symbol of the overwhelming power of Rome will appeal to admirers of the Roman Republic, but as the iconography of the winged victory also gave rise to the Christian imagery of angels in later years, collectors of angels will find this pin a delightful early example of the art they treasure.

S4: Zeus stickpin

The powerful depiction of Zeus gracing this beautiful silver coin of the Thessalian League stands for the unity and independence of the Greeks following the Roman victory over the Macedonians in 197 B.C. On the reverse Athena can be seen advancing, spear and shield in hand. For fifty years longer the Greeks would have self-rule, but it was not to last. Soon all the Mediterranean basin would fall to the unstoppable Romans.

S8 Dionysus stickpin

The coin used in the design of this stickpin is a silver two drachma piece of Heraclea on the Black Sea coast from around 345 B.C. The beautiful classical head on it depicts the youthful Dionysus with long flowing hair.Since he was the god of wine and revelry, this pin suggests itself for wine-lovers and those given to enjoyment, generally.

S11: Taras stickpin

The modern south Italian town of Taranto stands on the site of the former Greek colony of Taras. According to myth Taras, a son of the sea-god Poseidon was shipwrecked near this place, and near drowning implored his father to save him. A dolphin promptly arrived upon whose back the youth was able to ride safely to shore where he founded the town which bore his name. It was to become one of the foremost trading citystates of the greeks, and its distinctive coinage featuring the image of the founding boy on a dolphin would have been familiar to all the greeks and their trading partners throughout the Mediterranean basin. The coin used in the design of this stickpin dates from circa 280 B.C.

S7:Hadrian stickpin

Hadrian has long been considered one of the greatest , and one of the last good Roman Emprerors. His rule was one of peace, prosperity and good government. Aside from administrative diligence and talent, he was a great philhellene (lover of things greek) and patron of the arts, as well as an important builder, both in Rome and in the provinces. One of the things almost everybody knows about him is that he had the famous wall in the north of Britain built to keep the barbarians out. The portrait used on this stickpin is taken from a coin from Caesarea in Cappadocia, one of his beloved greek provinces and dates from around 125 A.D.

K11: Athena Granules keychain

Athena is seen on this keychain wearing a complex helmet ornamented by the sea monster Scylla (the other half of Charibdis fame) hurling a boulder. These two mythical creatures were the ancient greek version of "between rock and a hard place". Though minted in what is now Italy, it was from greek colonists at Tarentum around 300 B.C that the original used in this design came. It has been set in a dapped shield-like shape rimmed and graced with a series of large granules, all in sterling silver.

K3: Alexander keychain

The image on this keychain was taken from a greek silver four drachma coin of King Seleucus of Syria,who succeeded Alexander the Great to most of Asia, from around 320 B.C., showing a portrait of Alexander in the guise of Hercules wearing the scalp of the Nemian Lion. On the reverse the seated figure of Zeus can be seen holding his symbol, the eagle.

P66: Eye of Horus pendant

An authentic terracotta mold from ancient Egypt, dating back to the fourth century B.C. was used to make this pendant. While the Egyptian jeweler would have used a fine clay in it, and then glazed the clay pendant after it had been fired to produce the lovely blue faience amulets so often found in tombs if that period (and so beloved by collectors today), the artist has chosen to cast the amulet in sterling silver for this collection. Aside from some smoothing and streamlining, the pendant seen here is exactly as the ancient artist wanted it to be.

The Eye of Horus or Udjat-eye represented the watchful eye of Horus, the falcon-headed Egyptian god of the sun. Wearing it assured the owner of the constant watchfulness and protection of the god, who was thought to be able to view the whole earth at all times. Perhaps it was their idea of an insurance policy...