Steiff, Toys & Pop Culture

[JEWELRY] Naja Necklace. Necklace consists of sterling silver beads and beads harvested from the famous Kingman Mine . Interspersed between the beads are eight Morgan dollars in good condition with mintage dates of 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1896, 1899, and 1900. Naja pendant serves as the centerpiece of the necklace. “Naja” is a name given by the Navajo to a symbol whose design is believed to have originated in the Middle East during the early centuries of the Common Era. It was created as a talisman for protection, with the ancient Moors being known for hanging them from the bridles of their horses before riding into battle. How the symbol came to be used by Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest is unknown, though many historians speculate that it may have found its way into the region through the forced migrations of the Shawnee and Delaware tribes, who would have seen it on items used by the Europeans, or by Spanish settlers.