Rare Vtg Silver Coin Concho Like Belt w Mexican Eagle n Snake Coins from 1950's

  
This reminds me of the Navajo coin silver concho belts that you see from the Midwest and West. Instead of concho medallions, however, you have genuine, very substantial, vintage Mexican peso coins. In addition to the substantiality of the coins, the artisan has added a very sophisticated, and well-engineered system of links or "o" rings. This gives the belt tremendous versatility, flexibility and movement. I have tried to capture this in the photographs. The body of the belt is made up of seventeen single Mexican peso coins, with very clear images of Jose Maria Morelos on one side and the iconic Mexican eagle and snake on the other. All 17 of the single Mexican peso coins appear to be from 1950 and are in excellent, unabraded, uneroded condition. The belt buckle is made of a 5 peso coin.

That coin is not in as pristine condition as the other coins because of the soldering it underwent. The artisan soldered a bar or fastener onto the coin so that the hook attached to the other end of the belt could slip into the bar. That original process appears to have blackened the 5 peso coin and made some of the writing on that one coin illegible.

This is shown in the 10th photograph. The original soldering process also blackened the hook. This is apparent in the 6th photograph. I do not believe that there has been any further abrasion of the belt as a result of use over the years.

The belt can easily be worn so that the blackened side of the buckle is hidden. There are three silvermarks or hallmarks on the belt hook. A second consists of the hallmark or logo for AEM silversmiths, and says Hecho en Mexico. And, the third consists of the inimitable Eagle mark.

In this instance, the artists or artisans responsible for this piece worked under the aegis of Eagle mark #23. Both the Rancho Alegre name and Estela or Stella Popowski's designs are associated with this particular mark. I cannot say whether either of these were associated with this particular piece, however. Only AEM Silversmith's name appears on the work. During this period in Mexico, the practice was only to name the studio and not an individual artisan. NOTE: This is for a very small waist. I would say a 24 inch waist or a little over, perhaps. I'm not sure that it will accommodate a 25 inch waist. Width of Belt Buckle: 1 1/2 inches. There aren't many old silver coin belts online, and there'll be fewer and fewer every day. I list them for your consideration and appreciation.

Will governments ever stop minting coins? But I do know that beautiful old coin belts and buckles like these, including the one listed here, are already a rarity. So, get them while you can, before they end up in a museum. The item "Rare Vtg Silver Coin Concho Like Belt w Mexican Eagle n Snake Coins from 1950's" is in sale since Wednesday, September 5, 2018. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Necklaces & Pendants".

The seller is "wiregauge" and is located in New York, New York. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Features: Stackable
• Base Metal: Silver
• Wholesale: No
• Department: Unisex Adult
• Handmade: Yes
• Metal: Sterling Silver, Coin Silver
• Chain Type: "O" Ring, Sophisticated System of Links
• Main Stone Shape: Round Coins
• Modified Item: No
• Item Length: 25 3/8 inches
• Ethnic & Regional Style: Mexican
• Occasion: All Occasions
• Vintage: Yes
• Era: 1950's
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Mexico
• Year Manufactured: 1950-1959
• Main Stone: No Stone
• Shape: Articulated Belt
• Ethnic Origin: Mexican
• Jewelry Department: Fine
• Jewelry Type: Silver Coin Belt, Concho Like Belt
• Brand: Handmade, AEM Silversmiths, Eagle Mark 23
• Style: Coin Belt, Concho-like Belt
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Color: Silver
• Signed: Yes
• Closure: Bar and Hook
• Metal Purity: Connecting Links Are Sterling Silver; Coins, Coin Silver
• Signed?

  : Signed with Name of Studio, "AEM'."

• Theme: Mexican "Eagle" Coins
• Type: Belt
• Original/Reproduction: Original