Silver Dollars and Dimes Squash Blossom Necklace [SOLD]

This squash blossom necklace is comprised of silver coins. Most silver coins are 90% pure silver, compared to sterling silver which is 92.5% pure silver. Navajo smiths often used coin silver in lieu of sterling because it was readily available. The artist used liberty dimes to create silver beads. Each bead was hammered into a hemisphere and then soldered together.  Strung along the beads are individual silver dollars that are attached by a sturdy piece of silver. The silver dollars date from 1922 and 1923, and the liberty dimes date from the 1930s and 1940s.

The naja is a rounded shape with another silver dollar hanging in the center.

The piece is unsigned, but it is obvious the Navajo artist was skilled in working with silver.

Condition: the Silver Dollars and Dimes Squash Blossom Necklace is in excellent condition.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Maryland

Recommended Reading:  Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection by Shelby Tisdale