In keeping with tradition, next month’s Super Bowl will kick off with a coin toss on the field — and it’s a decent bet that up the stands, Taylor Swift will be wearing a coin of her own.
Over the past few months, the Grammy winner-turned-WAG has accessorized a number of her game-day and street style ensembles with jewelry fashioned from ancient currency; some actual antiques, other modern replicas.
Exhibit A: the 1970s-era For Future Reference necklace Swift paired with a denim corset and cutoffs at the Kansas City Chiefs’ first game of the season on Sept. 5, plucked the vintage purveyor’s exclusive curation for Bergdorf Goodman and priced at $12,750.
“The bronze coin in that particular necklace features Philip I, emperor of the Roman Empire from 224-249 AD,” For Future Reference founder Randi Molofsky tells Page Six Style of the “one-of-a-kind” find.
Given that Sept. 5 also marked the kickoff of Pepsi’s “Gladiator”-themed campaign — starring none other than Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce — the heirloom may well have been one of the singer’s signature Easter eggs.
But this wasn’t some one-off sartorial clue for the superstar; she wore the same precious piece for two subsequent autumn outings in NYC, and has since added several other coin-centric styles to her jewelry box — including a Ben-Amun Giovanni necklace and Luigi bracelet.
The necklace, as ancient coin collector-turned-dealer Spencer Miller of Miller Ancients tells Page Six Style, features “a modern imitation silver denarius of the Roman emperor Hadrian,” who reigned from 117 to 138 AD.
“Hadrian was a widely respected and competent emperor who fashioned himself as a great classical philosopher and traveled widely throughout the empire,” Miller says.
Also of note: “He was openly bisexual and carried on a long relationship with a male lover, Antinous, who tragically drowned in mysterious circumstances during a cruise on the Nile.”
According to Miller, the replica coin set in the coordinating Ben-Amun bracelet mimics those minted by the silversmiths of the ancient Greek city of Syracuse circa 300 BC, and depicts “the helmeted head of the goddess Athena on one side and a flying Pegasus on the other.”
Perhaps Swift felt drawn to the goddess of wisdom, warfare and handicraft — or to the winged horse synonymous with freedom and divine inspiration, for that matter.
Most recently, the “Fortnight” singer selected a silver pendant from Steven Battelle for Sunday night’s AFC Championship game.
“The image on that particular pendant is of the goddess Roma,” Battelle tells Page Six Style. “She was believed to watch over the city’s citizens and protect them from harm, as well as being a fierce defender of Rome in war.”
Per the jeweler, the reverse side of the authentic antique coin — struck in 109-108 BC during the Roman Republic — depicts Victoria, the winged Roman goddess of victory.
“There is something almost talismanic about the messages that we try to interpret from those coins,” Battelle notes. “To me, someone wearing an ancient coin piece has not only an appreciation the beauty of the ancient images, but an appreciation of the continuity of history and our place within it.”
And while many of Swift’s minted accessories will cost you a pretty penny, some are surprisingly accessible; she’s been spotted in several designs from Awe Inspired, including the Rhiannon necklace.
“Rhiannon is a goddess of rebirth, creation and the natural beauty and power of femininity. Celebrated for her beauty, generosity and intelligence, Rhiannon is often depicted as a stunning young woman dressed in gold, riding a pale horse and surrounded by songbirds, which symbolize her enchanting and otherworldly nature,” Awe Inspired CEO and co-founder Max Johnson tells Page Six Style.
“The design of the necklace features Rhiannon with her horse, a tribute to her grace and strength. The piece embodies the qualities she inspires: taking control of one’s destiny, embracing individuality and owning one’s unique journey.”
Plus, Johnson adds, the necklace was inspired by the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name — which Swift performed with Stevie Nicks at the 2010 Grammys.
While it’s impossible to know whether Swift’s been cherry-picking pieces stamped with these particular deities and rulers to send messages to her fans, it makes sense that the noted history buff — whose “Tortured Poets Department” track “Cassandra” was inspired by the cursed Greek mythological figure — would gravitate toward ancient coin jewelry in general.
“Taylor is a master of symbolism, and her ability to weave Easter eggs for her fans into everything she does — whether through lyrics, visuals or even her wardrobe — is a testament to her deep connection with her fans. Ancient coin-inspired jewelry has such a rich history of storytelling and meaning, so it’s no surprise she’s gravitated toward pieces like these,” Johnson says.
“Knowing Taylor, these pieces may hint at themes of resilience, power or even a connection to myths or eras that may inspire her next project. That’s what makes her so captivating — every detail feels intentional, like a puzzle piece waiting to be unlocked.”
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