Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-8995F4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Post Medieval copper alloy (brass) finger ring with inscribed 'posie' on the inner side. The finger ring is D-shaped in section with a flat inner side and convex outer side. The ends have been soldered together with a white metal join which is visible on the inner and outer side. On the inner side to the right of the join is an indented circle with an inlaid patch of the white metal which appears to be a six petaled flower in shape. To the right of the flower is the legend which, while damaged appears to read: Continnew Constant (Continue Constant). It is 24.0mm in external diameter, 2.2mm thick and 4.7mm wide. It weighs 4.25 grams.
Posy rings with small mottos (posies) were popular from the 15th to 19th centuries. Many gold examples have been reported through the Treasure process but brass rings imitating gold are also known. Due to brasses tendency to corrode however the inscriptions often do not survive as clearly. It may originally have been gilded or silvered. In general lower case (italics) became more popular for inscriptions on posy rings by the mid 17th century replacing roman capitals (Oman 1974: 40-41).
Gold rings with similar legends recorded on the Portable Antiquities database include SOM-39F176, Treasure case 2011 T821 from Wadeford, South Somerset dated to the 17th century, NMGW-241A42, Wales 2009.6, with the inscription 'Continu constant' in italics dated 1550-1600 and a ring from Wicklewood, Norfolk inscribed 'continew * constante' (TAR 1998-99, no. 190) which is dated to the 17th century. Examples are also known of the same inscription in Roman capitals that are thought to be earlier such as 2011 T160, DOR-506515 inscribed CONTINV CONSTANT, dated to the 16th to 17th century. SOM-7E9D55 on this database in brass is inscribed 'Continew faithfull'.
Inscription:
Continnew Constant (Continue Constant)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1625
Date to: Circa AD 1750
Quantity: 1
Width: 4.7 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 4.25 g
Diameter: 24 mm
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Other reference: SCC reciept 22170
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: White metal
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: ST4329
Four figure Latitude: 51.057498
Four figure longitude: -2.814681
1:25K map: ST4329
1:10K map: ST42NW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1000 metre square.
No references cited so far.