Heads or Tails – Hard currency from 450 years back
Throughout the ages, visually stunning and historically interesting coins have been popular in jewelry. The model for our Heads or Tails -pendant is a silver coin minted at Turku Castle, Finland in 1558. The coin, which dates from the reign of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, had significant purchasing power: it could have bought you a couple of hares, 15 litres of beer or a large jug of expensive wine imported from the Rhine. The same coin is now being used to celebrate the 600th anniversary of coinage in Finland. The year 2009 also marks the 10th year since Finland decided to join the European Monetary Union and adopt the euro.
Kalevala Jewelry’s Heads or Tails -pendant combines a silver coin with a modern material – black silicon wire. The two-sided coin suits both men and women. The front side depicts King Gustav Vasa with sword in hand, a symbol of power. The reverse side shows a crowned shield containing three crowns surrounding the Vasa family emblem. Latin mottos were also immortalised in coins. The reverse side of the Heads or Tails, for example, includes the text: DOMINI EST TERRA & C. The abbreviation & C stands for the Latin words ET CETERA. Roughly translated, the text reads ‘The world is the Lord’s, etc.’ The text is followed by the year of issue and the master coiner’s mark.
King Gustav Vasa was well versed in the art of coinage and often gave instructions to his master coiner. In particular, he warned him against minting coins as good as those that had been minted at Turku Castle. In April 1557, King Gustav Vasa, who was very precise when it came to the management of his finances, wrote to admonish his Finnish treasurer:
“You yourself are aware that our funds are more suited to acquiring cabbage than fat, and if you add too much fat to cabbage, one will simply get sick and that is not much good to the diner. This is also true of money. If we were to mint such good silver coins as you have sent us, then no good will come of it.”
Currencies change with the times – the Heads or Tails remains!
