Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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FINGER RING
Unique ID: SOM-C64172
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Description: Post-Medieval silver gilt posy ring with plain exterior. The finger ring is D-shaped in section with an inscription on the inside of the hoop: ¬ LOVE AND SERVE. There is no evidence of a makers mark. The ring is distorted and split apart at the end of the legend. One end of the break is more angled than the other suggesting a small part of the hoop has been lost. An area of copper corrosion in the break may suggest it broke around an impurity in the metal. The gilding is almost complete but has worn on the upper and lower edges showing the silver.
Dimensions: It is now 23.9 by 19.9mm and the hoop is 6.9mm wide by 1.56mm thick; it weighs 4.71 grams
Discussion: The shape of the ring and use of Roman capital letters suggests a later 16th to mid-17th Century date. Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.
Laura Burnett
Class:
Posy
Inscription:
*LOVE AND SERVE
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2010T485
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1550
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 23.9 mm
Width: 19.9 mm
Thickness: 1.56 mm
Weight: 4.71 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 31st August 2010
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2010T485
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Easterton
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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