Money not only can buy jewellery but can also become striking jewellery itself.
Throughout history, people have kept their family wealth in the form of gold and silver coins. Often the precious coins are stored in the form of jewellery or clothing decorations and worn on special occasions such as weddings and cultural festivals. Some women's dowries may be partly in precious gold and silver coins used as not only adornment but also as a show of wealth and status. Examples include the Balkans, Middle East, North Africa, India, Thailand and many other countries.
Sometimes coins portraying monarchs or leaders were worn in jewellery by people wanting to show respect or patriotism. This was particularly so during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Queen Victoria ruled an empire on which "The sun never set".
Many thousands of British and Empire women reflected this pride by wearing necklaces, bracelets or brooches featuring Victorian coins or other members of the royal family.