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| Figure 1.8 - Florian, H.,(1978) Bedouin silver jewellery with coins and amber beads |
An important function of jewellery to the Bedouin people is that it was a form of investment or redeemable wealth. It was used in business as a means of trading and kept as savings, but most importantly it was given to brides and their families as dowry. (Colyer Ross 1978: 20. According to Colyer Ross, "When coins were first invented, they were worth their weight in what ever metal they were made of". In the region of Bedouin people, many of the coins used to trade were of silver content.
Because it was used as a form of investment, Bedouin silver jewellery had to have a certified high silver content. For this reason, jewellery pieces incorporated actual silver coins that were used at the time as currency. The coins in the jewellery served as a hallmark to guarantee high silver content. Colyer Ross points out that in some cases, coins were actually melted down to be used to make other elements of jewellery.
It was important that the currencies used were of high silver content. This is why the Bedouins preferred currencies that were from are the Spanish columnar or pillar dollar, British Trade Dollar, Egyptian coins, and the Austrian Maria Theresia Thaler, examples of which, can be seen in the picture above. (Colyer Ross 1978: 113)
