Antique Crucifix Find - Need help with dating it??

[bdahunter]

I found this old crucifix, heavily encrusted with rust and coral sand at a beach in Bermuda. This is an old, military beach that is rarely used anymore but saw a lot of use in the 1800's. This is the thickest encrustation of coral sand over gold that I've seen and based on the accumulation I would say that this cross has been in the water for over 100 years.

Before Cleaning in a dilute acid bath

[attachment 62170 P7080032.JPG]

After Cleaning

[attachment 62171 P7080040-1.JPG][attachment 62172 P7080039.JPG]

Madonna and Child on one side and Christ on the other side. No karat markings but definitely solid gold it is 3 1/4" high by 2" wide. Pretty big piece for a person to wear around their neck unless they were a priest or some type of clergy.
Any opinions or directions to reference material would be greatly appreciated.

BDA

 

[FrontierWest]

I wonder if it has Spanish origins?

john

 

[Marc(NB)]

generally have the skull and cross bones at the foot of the cross.You'd have to do some research with that tid bit of info.I like finding and collecting religious stuff like that.Well done!!