Ancient Greek Helmet Pendant

Obverse: Corinthian Helmet
Reverse:  Radiate Wheel
Date: c. 450 - 350 B.C.
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  2.67 grams
Diameter: 19 mm / .59 inches

Description

This item is an authentic Greek coin, placed in a handmade bezel of 14k gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

This coin was struck at the Thracian city of Mesembria between the mid-fifth and mid-fourth centuries BC, a period when the city was emerging as a significant maritime and commercial center on the western Black Sea. The obverse features a crested Corinthian helmet, a powerful symbol of Greek martial identity, discipline, and civic defense. Rather than representing a specific warrior or event, the helmet functions as an emblem of collective strength, reflecting the importance of military readiness for a city whose prosperity depended on trade routes and coastal security.

The reverse shows a radiate wheel, a striking and somewhat abstract design that likely carried multiple layers of meaning, including motion, continuity, and cosmic order. Wheels appear in various Greek contexts as symbols of balance, time, and civic cohesion, and at Mesembria the motif became a distinctive local marker. Today, coins of this type are studied for their bold simplicity and strong civic symbolism, and they are regularly referenced in numismatic literature. Surviving examples circulate through established auctions and professional dealers, valued for their clear iconography and for what they reveal about how Greek cities expressed identity through concise, enduring imagery.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.

In antiquity, silver coinage from this area was commonly buried for safekeeping during periods of instability, warfare, or personal precaution, creating hoards that were never reclaimed by their owners. Sealed underground and protected by the durability of silver, many pieces survived centuries of burial with their designs still sharp. Most examples known today originate from such hoards, which have been legally recovered, carefully sorted, and documented before entering the modern numismatic trade. From there they pass through reputable dealers and auctions, where they are authenticated, cataloged, and distributed as genuine historical objects rather than isolated accidental finds, often associated with material linked to the Thracian city of Mesembria.