Issues:
Sections:
Issue 92
HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY, ETHNOGRAPHY
UDK: 069+391.7+930.271
A COIN ON AN ITEM: A NUMISMATIC ANALYSIS OF FOUR ARMENIAN JEWELRIES FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE RUSSIAN ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
The article deals with the discussion on four Armenian women’s adornments with coins stored in the Russian Ethnographic Museum (further REM) (collections of 1915 from the Armenian village of Kaybali-shen). The complex composition of coins presented on the frontlet REM 3518-21, made between 1718 and 1847, correlates with the synchronous hoards from Eastern Armenia and Shirwan with a significant portion of old coins (the so-called ‘anchor group’). The obverse/reverse orientation of the coins on this frontlet is random because by the time of its fabrication the legends on the old coins had already been barely understood, whereas Russian coins had not been common enough yet. But on the later jewelry from the 1860s, containing only Russian coins (frontlet REM 3518-28, pectorals REM 3518-18 and REM 3518-31), those are oriented by the heraldic eagle facing the viewers, which indicates that the manufacturers were clearly aware of the distinction between coin sides. The article concerns the role of head and breast adornments with coins in the local tradition and analyzes their numismatic component. The comparison of the coins on the jewelry with the simultaneous coin hoards enables to specify the region of origin of the former. Particular attention is paid to the explanation of the strategy of choice as to which coin side to be displayed, being demonstrative on adornments and reflecting the cultural preferences.
Pages: 67 - 77
Date: 28.03.2024