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FINGER RING
Unique ID: SOM-140B42
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Medieval copper alloy ring seal dating to the 15th century AD, consisting of a broadly circular band and central bezel. The band is trapeziod in cross section, with flattened inner and outer faces and sides and a slightly wider inner . The band expands evenly at the shoulders to meet the bezel which is oval in plan. The bezel is decorated with an incised design of an oval frame which contains a capital letter I with a simple crown above and branches to each side. The ring measures 13.6mm across the bezel by 10.0mm wide, the bezel is 3.1mm thick and the band 3.0mm thick by 3.5mm wide at the back and 26.2mm in external diameter and the ring weighs 5.85g.
Signet rings with a crowned initial and branches to each side became increasingly common in the 15th century, it is thought the initial was for the owners first name and I (for J) is popular (Harvey and MacGuiness 1996:93). Many similar rings can be seen on this database, e.g. SUSS-D1CD32, LON-2B8E94 and SOM-29C9A7
Inscription:
I
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight: 5.85 g
Diameter: 26.2 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st July 2015 - Friday 1st July 2016
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt 017418
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: Taunton Deane (District)
Parish or ward: Thornfalcon (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: ST2724
Four figure Latitude: 51.01072985
Four figure longitude: -3.04193262
1:25K map: ST2724
1:10K map: ST22SE
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey, P.D.A. and McGuinness, A. | 1996 | A Guide to British Medieval Seals | London | British Library and Public Record Office |
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Timeline of associated dates
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