A Pair of Roman Gold, Garnet, Coral and Amethyst Earrings, ca. 1st century CE

a lovely pair of earrings, constructed in two sections of high carat gold; the set with three hand-polished circular gemstones, the central stone of amethyst is flanked on either side by a garnet, whereas the lower section, adjoined by a loop, is set with a coral, garnet and amethyst gemstone, a twisted wire ear loop at back.  

Condition:   Intact and in very good condition overall

Dimensions:  Drop Length: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)

Provenance:  Vernon Pick (1903 - 1986) private collection assembled in Switzerland in the late 1950's and then by descent to Pick's nephew, Mr. Jim Hanson, Minnesota. "Rags-to-Riches" Vernon Pick, a middle-aged electrician from Minnesota, turned uranium prospecting into a multimillion dollar proposition.  After nine months of fruitless prospecting, Pick discovered uranium 75 miles southwest of Green River, in Emery County in Utah on June 21, 1952.  He staked several claims and called them the Delta mines.  In Utah, he proved up 300,000 tons of ore that Time magazine called “one of the richest finds in the Colorado Plateau.”. Two years later Pick sold his mine to international financier Floyd Odlum for $9 million and a custom-converted PBY airplane. Odlum renamed the mine the Hidden Splendor, but soon after his purchase the highly touted vein pinched out. Local wags then dubbed the mine "Odlum's Hidden Blunder."