Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things

1855… 171 years and two lifetimes ago. The world was graphically different.  The California gold rush was forever changing the American way of life.  In 1849, thousands of miner 49ers rushed to the sunshine state in hopes of striking it rich.  Just six short years later, the easily accessible gold had dwindled substantially, and the influx of people had significantly depleted the supply of government-issued small coins.  In order to encourage business and facilitate commerce, jewelers and private firms in San Francisco minted California factional gold coins.  Made in denominations of 25¢, 50¢, and $1 – these coins emerged in 1852.  

Created in both round and octagonal shapes, these tiny tokens came to symbolize so much more than their face-value worth.  They became popular souvenirs and were made into charms, pendants and brooches.  To be worn, the coins had to be pierced or soldered onto another piece.  Wearing them signaled wealth and financial security.  The fashion trend went well beyond California; the tokens were sent to the Eastern United States and as far as Europe.

Here, this 1855 California fractional coin slides cleverly along the safety chain of a Mid-Victorian bracelet.  Hand-crafted from a combination of silver and low-karat gold, this bit of arm candy features a graduated series of twenty-six rhodolite garnets.  Cut in both cushion and oval shapes, these colored gems shimmer in every shade from raspberry to magenta.  They’re bezel-set and hinged, one to the next.  Dubbed “Bohemian rubies”, these violet-hued garnets were extremely popular in the years from 1850-1870.  

On their own, both the bracelet and the 25¢ coin are charming.  But together?  It’s an unbeatable combination and the most enchanting of time capsules.  Signifying a small nugget of American history, this bracelet is available for just $1,950.00.  Make it yours today.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe