Rights Holder: Buckinghamshire County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FINGER RING
Unique ID: BUC-98E045
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A small Roman silver finger-ring. The width of the circular hoop, very slender at the back, expands evenly to the lightly convex bezel, on which is a simple, lightly-incised, stylised image of a palm branch. This motif, quite frequently found Empire-wide on Roman rings of gold, silver and bronze, was the commonly-used symbol of victory, believed to offer protection from malign forces. In death it was supposed to help the wearer reach the afterlife. Comparative examples in the British Museum collections include one in gold from London (AF 165) and one in silver from Slay Hill Saltings, Kent (PY 1883, 1213.559). Date: 1st - 3rd century AD. External diameter 19 x 18.6 mm. In age and precious metal content the object qualifies as Treasure under the terms of the 1996 Treasure Act.
Notes:
Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of a very worn finger ring from Cottered, Herts, indicated a silver content of the corroded surface of approximately 99%. The ring weighs 2.24 grams. Susan La Niece & Antony Simpson [BM]
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Hertford Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2006T418
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Date from: AD 43
Date to: AD 410
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 17 mm
Width: 16.8 mm
Weight: 2.3 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 2nd September 2006
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2006T418
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: East Hertfordshire (District)
To be known as: Cottered
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: BH-B63C98
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A fragment of a silver finger ring, comprising the bezel and much of the flanking shoulders. The ring is of rectangular section, its widest p…
Workflow: Published
Find number: ESS-45C591
Object type: PENANNULAR RING
Broadperiod: BRONZE AGE
CORONER'S REPORT
Description
A late Bronze Age penannular gold ring of oval cross-section. The piece originally had alternate stripes o…
Workflow: Published
Find number: YORYM-CB2703
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
TREASURE CASE : 2007 T376 pt 1
Dirham fragment
On the basis of the evidence the Dirham fragment does not appear to have come from t…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
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