Historical Coin Jewelry Appraisal

Napoleon III Coin Pendant on Silver Chain

This item consists of a coin pendant featuring the bust of Napoleon III, suspended from a silver-toned chain. The coin itself appears to be a French 5 Francs coin from the Second Empire period, characterized by the distinct profile of Emperor Napoleon III facing right, with a neatly trimmed beard and hair styled upwards. Inscriptions around the bust read "NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR", with "BARRE" or "BARRE" (likely referring to the engraver) faintly visible below the bust. The coin exhibits a metallic, possibly silver or silver-plated, appearance with a matte finish, suggesting some age and natural patina, rather than a highly polished, new sheen. It is circular in shape with a reeded edge, though the full detail of the reeding is not perfectly clear. The coin shows moderate wear consistent with its age and use as a pendant, including some surface scratches and slight softening of the finer details, but the effigy remains clear and distinguishable. The coin is attached to a bail, which is a small loop of metal, presumably silver or a silver-toned alloy, that allows it to hang from the chain. The chain is composed of interlocking oval and elongated figure-eight shaped links, creating a relatively thick and robust design. The links are of a uniform silver-tone and show some signs of wear and minor tarnishing in the crevices, indicating it is likely also silver or a silver-plated base metal. The overall construction appears sturdy, and the craftsmanship of both the coin (as an original piece of currency) and the chain is of good quality, typical of period jewelry or repurposed historical items. The estimated age of the coin would be mid-to-late 19th century (circa 1852-1870), with the chain and its pendant conversion likely dating to a similar or slightly later period. No specific maker's marks are visible on the chain or bail in the provided image.