Coin Silver and Coral Necklace

Four hundred coral beads, in no hurry to get anywhere.

This coin silver and coral necklace dates to the early 20th century, making it over 100 years old. It holds 400 rubrum coral beads with a coin silver clasp. Long strands like this were made for women to wear as adornment and a show of standing, and red coral has long been worn for protection too. Coin silver is so called because it was made from melted coinage. The beads are small, barrel-shaped and warmly orange-red, pitted across their surfaces, each a little different. An oval clasp, worked with a floral pattern, closes the strand. Fifty-three inches long.

It goes around more than once, which seems only fair.