Sequin

The word sequin comes from Arabic sikka (a minting die) and Italian zecca (the mint; notably, the mint in Venice). From these sources come Italian zecchino and 17th century French sequin, both meaning gold coins.
 
The English word sequin, meaning an ornamental disc or spangle, is from 1852 and describes the attire of women in the Orient who wore Venetian coins perforated as earrings or necklaces.
 
Gold sequins have been part of luxury clothing for 2500 years. In the 1930s, manufacturers developed sequins using gelatin covered with lead paint. In addition to being a health hazard, these were not practical as they melted with body heat and dissolved in water. Modern sequins are now made of various plastics.
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
​