Wings of Faith
Symbolic Relationship between Coin and Medal: The cross on the coin, a symbol of divine protection and spiritual victory, resonates with the Crowned Heart of Jesus, emblem of sacrifice and redemption. The coin’s dotted circle evokes cosmic completeness, while the artist-added wings suggest spiritual freedom and soul ascent. Together, coin and medal form a piece that combines history, devotion, and creativity, transforming medieval symbols and Christian iconography into a contemporary jewelry piece with strong emotional impact.
The Medal
Oval shaped medal Heart with Thorns
This creation pairs a medieval copper coin with a cross surrounded by a dotted circle, symbolizing Christ reigning over the universe, with a 1948 Maggi medal, struck by Ettore Maggi in 90/92 brass (similoro) and hot-enameled in red and white, depicting a Heart with thorns and a cross. The artist enhanced the earring with a metal element shaped like Victorian Bohemian wings, giving movement and lightness to the piece.
The Coin
Medieval Coin
The cross surrounded by a dotted circle on this medieval coin typically symbolizes the Christian cross as an emblem of spiritual victory and divine protection, with the dotted circle evoking eternity, cosmic completeness, and sacred separation from the profane world. **Christian Significance** It represents Christ reigning over the cosmos (circle = universe), common on papal or royal coins from the 4th century, derived from the *globus cruciger* or Celtic cross, emphasizing redemption and temporal-sacred authority. The dotted circle serves as a decorative frame, fills space, prevents counterfeiting, and highlights the central design, frequent on Carolingian or Italian/Spanish Gothic deniers (e.g., potent cross). **Symbolic Context** It evokes the celestial or nimbate cross, a bridge between heaven and earth; in papal or royal contexts, it asserts Christian dominion over economy and power, similar to variants with rosettes or stars.
The Materials
