MELISSA BRANIFF

Melissa Braniff’s fascination with ancient coins began with decades of study in classical mythology and the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. While reading one account of Julius Caesar returning to Rome after defeating a territory, she learned that each “triumph" was followed by a parade where coins manufactured to commemorate the victory would be thrown about the streets. Her initial curiosity to locate those exact coins ultimately led her to the vast world of even more ancient coinage. As her ancient coin collection grew, she was moved by how the coins artistically combine her love of both mythology and ancient culture. She designed her collection to share the beauty and the stories of these ancient artifacts with others. Melissa’s handcrafted pieces are rich in their design and in the stories they tell. These are stories that are meant to be shared and that connect with each person in their own unique way.