At the heart of this necklace lies a magnificent Carthaginian gold stater, minted in Zeugitana between 350 and 310 BC, an artefact of exceptional rarity and historical resonance. Struck in gold, it bears the serene profile of Tanit, supreme goddess and protector of Carthage. Her hair is crowned with grain, symbol of fertility and abundance, and she wears her characteristic triple-pendant earring and necklace, reflecting the jewellery of Carthaginian noblewomen. The refined engraving reveals the dialogue between Hellenistic artistry and Punic identity, resulting in one of the most accomplished portraits of the ancient world.
On the reverse, a horse stands to the right upon a single ground line, a motif rooted in Carthage’s foundation myth. When Queen Dido established the city, a horse’s skull was unearthed on the chosen site, interpreted as a sign of good fortune, nobility, and strength. The omen proved prophetic: Carthage would later command one of the most formidable cavalries of the ancient Mediterranean, its horses celebrated for their speed, discipline, and grace. The coin thus unites myth and history in a single image of divine and civic power.
Encircling this historic coin is a composition of 18k yellow gold, luminous mother-of-pearl, and 96 pavé-set champagne diamonds. The motif, known since antiquity throughout the Mediterranean, is based on a principle of infinite geometric repetition, a symbol of creation and universal harmony later studied by Leonardo da Vinci and reinterpreted in the intricate mashrabiya screens of Arab art. The coin is mounted within a finely engineered bezel that allows it to rotate, enabling the wearer to choose which face to reveal: Tanit’s formidable profile or the Carthaginian horse, symbol of strength and freedom; and to make that choice her own each time she wears it.
Suspended from a 90 cm gold chain with the Tanit signature clasp, this jewel represents one of the most accomplished creations of Sassi Fine Jewellery: a meeting of myth and mathematics, history and light, where the spirit of Dido and the grace of Tanit continue to shine across time.
