Muse Roman Republic Coin Necklace

This necklace features 8 Roman Republic silver denarii coins. These coins were minted in 66 B.C. during the Republican era. The moneyer, or person responsible for choosing the designs and arranging for the minting of coins, during that year was Quintus Pomponius Musa. In honor of his cognomen, Musa, this moneyer produced a series of 10 coins that celebrated one each of the 9 Muses and the god Hercules Musarum playing the lyre on the reverse sides of the coins. The laureate head of Apollo, sun god and principal deity associated with the Muses, is featured on the obverse side of all the coins.
The Muses were revered as the goddesses of inspiration in the arts, poetry & literature and sciences. 8 of the 9 are represented on the necklace as elucidated below. The 9th Muse, Erato, who lent her name to the word erotic, was the goddess of Love Poetry. This coin is one of the rarest coins of all from ancient Rome; it is now found only in a few museum collections.
The chain is fabricated in 24 karat gold and bezels and rosettes are hand fabricated in 22 karat gold in a Greek Revival style.
Obverse: Laureate Head of Apollo in Profile
Reverse: the words Q Pomponi Musa and a Muse
From the top left of the necklace: Polyhymnia (Hymns to the Gods), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Euterpe Elegaic (Poetry), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy)

Silver Denarii, 66 B.C., Rome Mint. 22kt and 24kt gold.