Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

An ancient coin set brooch, the Greek denier in collet mount, within a border of crosses spaced with pairs of pearls (pearls untested for origin), the mount stamped to the reverse ‘750’, diameter 23mm. £140-£200

The base silver Denier dates from medieval Greece, at a time when the country was divided up and run by Western rulers (mostly Crusaders who did not return home). The legend reads ‘Gui Dux Atenes’ (Guy Duke of Athens) and ‘Thebani Civis’ (City of Thebes). The ruler in question is Gui I or II de la Roche, who ruled between 1280-1308. The family originally came from Burgundy.