The Cleopatra Pearls and the Gresham Pearl

These two pearls were in existence in vastly different times however, their fate was very similar.

The Cleopatra Pearl is believed to have existed nearly 2000 years ago. Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt, made a bet with Marc Antony that she could spend a large sum of money on just one meal. Cleopatra always wore two pearl earrings that, at the time, are described as the largest in history. It is said that when she ordered the meal to come out, all that was there was a cup of vinegar and one of her pearls. She dissolved the pearl and drank it.

cleopatra pearls

Similar to this, The Gresham Pearl belonged to a merchant prince during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was valued at 15,000 pounds. As the story goes, the merchant was trying to amaze the Spanish Ambassador and show him that he could afford a costlier meal for the Queen, so he melted down the pearl into wine and drank it in front of everyone.

There are not any more details on these two pearls, however in each case a single pearl was used to show wealth and power through extreme actions.

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