Small Olive Branch and Rose Bud Kite Coin

From humble bronze coins strung on cords to intricate gold medallions set amidst a collection of gilded charms, coin jewels — like the one at the center of Laura’s 18k gold chain necklace — are a wardrobe staple. Just don’t call them basic. In antiquity, coins were thought to protect the wearer against disease, misfortune and evil spirits. Today, they evoke a time when a flat piece of metal bearing an official stamp made the world go ’round.