Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre (Our Lady of Charity) Pendant

This is a small, figural religious pendant crafted in yellow gold, depicting Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba. The image is significantly blurred, but the silhouette clearly shows the characteristic conical shape of her robes topped with a circular halo or nimbus surrounding the head and shoulders. The piece appears to be made of stamped or cast gold plating or solid gold, exhibiting a bright, polished uniform yellow hue. The pendant features a simple jump ring at the top connecting it to a silver-toned fine-link chain, which suggests a possible replacement or mixed-metal wear. The reverse side of the pendant appears flat, which is common for smaller devotions of this type, often dating from the mid-to-late 20th century. While no hallmarks are visible due to the image quality, pieces of this style are frequently 10k or 14k gold. Condition-wise, the pendant shows no obvious signs of bending or breakage, though a slight surface patina or wear to the finish may be present consistent with regular usage as a personal protective talisman. The craftsmanship is standard for religious jewelry, focusing on the recognizable iconographic silhouette rather than intricate micro-detailing.

Upon visual inspection of the provided image, I have examined this figural pendant depicting Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre. The piece exhibits the classic iconography of Cuba's patron saint, featuring the distinct conical robe silhouette and nimbus. The item appears to be mass-produced via stamping or casting, likely dating to the mid-to-late 20th century, a period of high production for such devotional items among the Cuban diaspora. The bright yellow hue suggests gold content, commonly 10k or 14k in this style; however, the lack of visible hallmarks and the contrast with the silver-toned chain raises the possibility of gold plating over a base metal. The craftsmanship is standard commercial quality rather than fine artisan work, prioritizing the recognizable religious silhouette over intricate detail. The market for religious medals is steady but generally driven by scrap gold value unless the piece has significant age or provenance. Similar vintage 14k gold pendants of this size (approx. 1-2 grams) typically retail between $100 and $150, while gold-filled or plated versions trade significantly lower, often under $50. The mixed-metal chain detracts slightly from the overall presentation but indicates the pendant sees active wear as a personal talisman. Disclaimer: This appraisal is based solely on a digital image. Without physical handling, I cannot perform an acid test or electronic analysis to verify gold purity (e.g., solid 14k vs. gold-plated). I also cannot view maker’s marks or weigh the item to calculate melt value accurately. Definitive valuation requires in-person inspection to confirm metal content and total gram weight.