Mystery Pendants in Mom's jewelry collection

 Yesterday was spent solving the mystery of the two ‘coin pendants’ found in Mom’s jewelry collection. After a lot of Google searches, I found examples of them. Atocha shipwreck treasure gold coin pendant and 1788 Carol III Spanish Coin pendant. The coin design in use during the Atocha time period, referred to as shield type, incorporated the Spanish coat of arms or shield on the obverse side and a cross representing the union of Church and State. 

Gold coin pendant. Atocha Coin Jewelry (website). The Atocha was a treasure-laden ship that set sail from Havana in September 1622, carrying a vast cargo of silver, gold, and precious jewels that were meant to finance Spain’s ongoing wars in Europe. However, the ship was caught in a hurricane and sank off the coast of Florida, taking with it its precious cargo and almost 300 people.

   For more than three centuries, the wreck of the Atocha remained undiscovered, until it was finally located by a team of treasure hunters led by Mel Fisher in 1985. The discovery of the Atocha treasure was a major event, not just because of the value of the treasure itself, but also because of the history and folklore that surround it. The story of the Atocha and its treasure has captured the imagination of people around the world, and it continues to do so today. Wikipedia. “Following a lengthy court battle against the State of Florida, the finders were ultimately awarded sole ownership of the rights to the treasure.”

   One of the most popular types of Atocha jewelry is the coin jewelry. These pieces are made from authentic silver or gold coins that were salvaged from the Atocha wreck. The coins are often set in pendants, earrings, or bracelets, and they make unique and meaningful gifts for anyone who loves history and jewelry.

1788 Carol III Spanish Coin pendant. 

https://outcoast.com/discovering-the-rich-history-and-beauty-of-atocha-coin-jewelry-a-treasure-trove-of-unique-pieces/. Atocha Coin Jewelry. Charles III was King of Spain from 1759 to 1788. He implemented regalist policies to increase the power of state regarding the church. During his reign, he expelled the Jesuits from the Spanish Empire. Charles reigned during the period of the Spanish Inquisition. Wikipedia. The Spanish Inquisition was established 1 November 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. It began toward the end of the Reconquista and was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms and to replace the Medieval Inquisition, which was under Papal control. According to modern estimates, around 150,000 people were prosecuted for various offenses during the three-century duration of the Spanish Inquisition, of whom between 3,000 and 5,000 were executed, approximately 2.7% of all cases. On 15 July 1834, the Spanish Inquisition was definitively abolished by a Royal Decree. The Alhambra Decree that had expelled the Jews was formally rescinded on 16 December 1968 by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, after the Second Vatican Council rejected the idea that Jews are deicides (killers of a god).