Medieval "Hand of God" Coin Earrings

Sterling silver lever back earrings with prong set AR Hand Heller coins.  Coins circa 12th -13th Century  AD. 1-3/4" diameter, 1-1/2" drop. Certificate of Authenticity.

The name Heller comes from the word Häller, in other words meaning a coin minted in Schwäbisch Hall*, and was first mentioned in 1189. The  obverse side features the Hand of God design, while the reverse depicts an ornate cross. Both designs are also found on the town seal. The heller remained a unit of currency for the next 900 years in several different countries; the Czech National Bank finally removed their last hellar denominated coins from circulation in 2008.

Salvation, protection, benediction, absolution-all these and more are represented by God's hand, specifically His right hand. The Phrase "right hand of God" appears frequently in both the the Hebrew Bible and the New testament . God's right hand is "full of righteousness" used to vanquish enemies and guide the way to the promised land. At the right hand of the Father is where the resurrected Christ sits.

It is no wonder, then, that The image of the Hand of God is so often found in religious art. Originally a Jewish innovation, the convention of using the Hand of God- Manus Dei in Latin- as a symbol for God Himself was embraced by Christian artists. In late antiquity, the representation of the full-bodied figure of God would have been considered sinful, a grave violation of the Second commandment. Indeed, the iconoclast campaigns of eighth century Byzantium were inspired by fanatical devotion to this prohibition on graven images. The Hand of God was a compromise- a way to show God without actually depicting Him.

The use of the Hand by itself sends an evocative message, suggesting that the bearer of the coin is also a recipient of God's divine influence. The so-called "Hand Heller" is not just a lucky coin, but a blessed one.

*Schwäbisch Hall is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg