this philatelic issue presents six examples of the goldsmith’s art – works in gold and other precious metals, such as silver and platinum – of the Egyptian and Greek civilization.

The goldsmith’s art, the working of gold and other precious metals, such as silver and platinum, is closely related to jewellery, which since ancient times has been using these metals as elements to bind precious stones.

Egyptian civilization stamps:

€ 0.05: breastplate with scarab and solar disc. Cairo, Egyptian Museum.
©2018. De Agostini Picture Library/Scala, Florence.
The breastplate in gold, lapis lazuli and other precious stones, found in the treasure of the pharaoh Tutankhamun (18th dynasty) depicts the scarab (kheperer), the solar disk (Ra), the crescent moon, expression of the solar boat (Neb) which symbolizes the pharaoh’s divine nature and power and makes up his first name Nebkheperura: Neb (the crescent), kheperer (the scarab), ra (the solar disk).

€ 0.15: gold mask of tomb 3 of Tanis (21st-23nd dynasty). Cairo, Egyptian Museum.
©2018. De Agostini Picture Library/Scala, Florence.
The funerary masks were based on Egyptian beliefs that the head of the deceased had to remain intact to maintain their identity and to defend themselves from attacks by demonic forces.

€ 1.10: Tutankhamun pendant. Cairo, Egyptian Museum.
©2018. Photo Scala, Florence.
The pendant highlights the Eye of Ra, symbol of royal power and prosperity, and the scarab, a powerful amulet which functioned as apotropaic magic. From the 18th dynasty this amulet also began to be placed on the chest of mummies in tombs.

Greek jewellery stamps:

€ 1.15: clasp from Tomb 2 of Kheniale Tekke, near Knossos (8^th cent. BC). Crete, Heraclion Museum
©2018. De Agostini Picture Library/Scala, Florence.

€ 2.00: gold earring in the shape of a female head. Ferrara, Museo Archeologica
©2018. De Agostini Picture Library/Scala, Florence.

€ 2.40: pendant. Taranto, Museo Nazionale Archeologico.
© 2018. Photo Scala, Florence – courtesy of Ministero per i Beni e Attività Culturali e del Turismo.
This splendid piece is an example of the elegant jewellery produced in Magna Grecia.