Rights Holder: Norfolk County Council
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Unique ID: NMS-B64C74
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Description: Undated gold ring. Slightly irregular section, D-shaped externally with a median arris internally. The internal surface is irregular and not well finished / smoothed in some areas.
Date: Undated.
Dimensions: Internal diameter 16 - 17mm. External diameter 22 - 22.5mm. Width of band 4 - 4.5mm. Thickness of band 2.5 - 3mm. Weight 6.7g.
Discussion: The lack of diagnostic features make this ring difficult to date. The irregular section of the band would be unusual for a post-medieval finger ring, the form and plainness would be unusual for a ring of Roman to Medieval date.
This ring has been assessed by curators of all periods at the British Museum, and has been confirmed by each to be undiagnostic. As a result, it is not possible to securely date this find to pre-1713 and as such it falls outside the provisions of the Treasure Act 1996.
Notes:
Report for the Coroner on the scientific analysis
ITEM OF POTENTIAL TREASURE 2013 T85
(submitted via The Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure)
Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of a ring from indicated a gold content of 50-53%, a silver content of approximately 41-45% with at least 4% copper. While the outside is well finished, though worn and scratched, the inside of the ring is uneven, having the appearance of a hammered seam around the centre of the inner face. The Specific Gravity measurement of 13.5 is consistent with the gold/silver ratio of the alloy, suggesting that the ring is solid and that the 'seam' does not indicate a join in plating. The metal composition could be consistent with a prehistoric date, but is also possible at later periods. No parallel could be found for the features on the inside of the ring.
The ring weighs 6.76 grams.
Department of Conservation and Scientific Research
The British Museum
File No. 7506-56
30 May 2013
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2013T85
Broad period: UNKNOWN
Period from: UNKNOWN
Period to: UNKNOWN
Date from: Circa 2350 BC
Date to: Circa AD 1900
Quantity: 1
Width: 4.5 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 6.7 g
Diameter: 22.5 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st October 2012 - Wednesday 31st October 2012
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SMR reference number: 58344
Other reference: IND20112012AM
Treasure case number: 2013T85
4 Figure: TM0585
Four figure Latitude: 52.424542
Four figure longitude: 1.01358
1:25K map: TM0585
1:10K map: TM08NE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.