Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FINGER RING
Unique ID: WILT-54BBAA
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Roman gold finger ring dating to c. AD 1-200. The find is much bent and distorted, with a circular hoop of circular cross-section and what appear to be a pair of opposed possible snake heads forming the bezel.
max. length of distorted hoop 25.0mm
thickness wire hoop (circular sectioned) 1.3mm
max setting length 8.5mm (right angles to hoop)
max setting width 6.8mm
depth setting 2.6mm
weight 1.95g
Discussion: snake rings are common finds from the early Roman period. This ring appears to broadly conform with the type and would be classified as Johns type Bii (Johns 1997). However, because the ring is so heavily distorted, it is not completely certain that this is the correct classification of this particular ring; the ‘snake heads’ appear to sit transverse to the line of the ring, which is unusual.
Conclusion: because this item is more than 300 years old and made from more than 10% precious metal, it conforms with the definition of Treasure as set out in the Treasure Act 1996.
English Treasure Cases Reported in Wales
Richard Hobbs 9.12.21
Reference
Johns, C.M. 1997. The Snettisham Roman jeweller’s hoard (London, British Museum Press).
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Informed finder that the object should be submitted as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2020T368
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Exactly AD 1
Date to: Circa AD 200
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 25 mm
Width: 6.8 mm
Thickness: 1.3 mm
Weight: 1.95 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 22nd December 2019 - Sunday 22nd December 2019
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: Wales
Treasure case number: 2020T368
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: All Cannings (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU0761
Four figure Latitude: 51.34803841
Four figure longitude: -1.90087737
1:25K map: SU0761
1:10K map: SU06SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: WMID-6E5912
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: ROMAN
2011 T281
Roman silver finger ring with circular hoop of square section. The shoulders are keeled and expand to two conflated ovoid mouldi…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF-8BEF14
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Roman snake finger ring Date: Circa late 2nd century AD Description: A complete silver snake-ring formed from a simple penannular ring with c…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF-8A6886
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A gold probable finger ring now distorted, consisting of a slender twisted ribbon of gold with tiny flat-backed snake heads in l…
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618