Copper alloy medallion or amulet/talismanic pendant, probably dating to the 16th-18th century, or (if a modern copy), 19th or early 20 century. Then pendant is flat circular with an engraved decoration on each side. On the obverse it is incised with a 'magical' square that is made up of 16 smaller boxes arranged 4x4. This shape is also known as a 'Kamea' and related to the planet and god Jupiter with 16 Hebrew letters arranged in a certain way. There are three Hebrew inscriptions in the outer circular and the planetary symbol of Jupiter together with the number 136 (total sum of numerical values of the letters in the square) at the bottom. On the reverse the planetary symbol of Jupiter is repeated, set next to the seal of Jupiter and the symbol on the 'intelligence' of Jupiter with a Latin inscription reading Confirmo, Deus Potentissimus, transl. "Strength me, O God most powerful."

On the front of the talisman in the middle is the planetary table of Jupiter. Above the table is the Hebrew, El Ab which is the Divine Name of Jupiter, corresponding to the number 4. Underneath the table is the standard symbol of Jupiter. In the outer ring to right is the Hebrew ABA another Divine Name of Jupiter, which corresponds to the number 16. To right on the outer ring in Hebrew is the name, Johphiel, the intelligence of Jupiter, whose number 136 appears at the bottom of the outer ring.

On the back of the talisman in the middle above the seal of Jupiter, below it the sigil of the Intelligence of Jupiter, Johphiel or Iophiel.

A very similar to an example held in the British Museum collections number: 1885,0508.107. Donated in 1885.

The table, also called the Kamea, can be depicted in either English numbers (as shown in the talisman found in The Magus) or in Hebrew (as used by Smith). According to Barrett, the table '. . . consists of a square drawn into itself; it contains sixteen particular numbers, and in every line and diameter four, making thirty-four; the sum of all is one hundred and thirty-six. There are over it divine names, with an intelligence to that which is good, and a spirit to bad; and out of it is drawn the character of Jupiter and the spirits thereof; if this is engraven on a plate of silver, with Jupiter being powerful and ruling in the heavens, it conduces to gain riches and favor, love, peace and concord, and to appease enemies, and to confirm honors, dignities, and counsels.'

This talisman is often called a Jupiter talisman or Joseph Smith talisman. Joseph Smith owned a a silver medallion containing the same magical inscriptions . Joseph's widow later passed the object on to her step-son, Charles Bidaman, who in turn sold it to Mormon collector, Wilford C. Wood, of Woods Cross, Utah.

The same talisman is reproduced in The Magus, by Francis Barrett, published in 1804. Mormon scholar Reed C. Durham explains that a Jupiter talisman is used to guarantee the possessor of such an object "the gain of riches, and favor, and power, and love and peace; and to confirm honours, and dignities

This book was originally printed in 1801 and re-printed in 1875. Therefore this example unless it is a more modern copy is likely to date somewhere within this span.

Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Mormonite cult, is now assumed to have been familiar with Barrett's work.

• For information on symbols see: Agrippa von Nettesheim, 'De occulta philosophia', ed. 1533 and K. A. Novotny, 'The Construction of certain Seals ans Characters in the Work of Agrippa of Nettesheim', Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, XII, 1949.Additional references:

E.A. Wallis Budge ([1930]/1978), 'Amulets and Superstitions', New York: Dover Publications Inc. (chapters VIII, XXI and XXII)

Joshua Trachtenberg ([1939]/2004), 'Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion', Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press (chapter 16)

T Schrire (1966), 'Hebrew Amulets: their decipherment and interpretation', London: Routledge and Kegan Paul (chapters 11 & 12)