Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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FINGER RING
Unique ID: KENT-1E5231
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A medieval gold inscribed finger ring dating from circa 1400-1550.
Description: The hoop is slightly distorted and is D-shape in cross section. It is engraved with lettering on a cross-hatched background interspersed with lozenge shaped foliage in the form of four petals within a circle. There is a thin, plain border above and below. The inscription is in black letter script and appears to read 'BISN BAS BEIN'. It is not entirely clear how this inscription is meant to be read or in what order, although it seems likely that BEIN is a misspelling of BIEN. Inspection under a microscope revealed small holes in some of the lettering, such as the 'I' in 'bein', which indicate that the ring is hollow in construction.
A finger ring found in South Holland, Lincolnshire, 2016 T978, is a close comparison with this ring. The style of the lettering and the form of the ring show similarities. This example is dated circa 1400-1550.
The ring was analysed using non-destructive X-ray fluorescence which indicated a surface composition of approximately 80-82% gold and 11-13% silver, the rest being copper. Observation under a microscope and XRF of the surface of the ring were unable to establish whether traces of enamel were present.
Dimensions: diameter: 18.8mm, depth: 11mm; weight: 1.53 grams
Notes:
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.
Inscription:
BISN BAS BEIN
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being declared not Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T908
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 1.53 g
Diameter: 18.8 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 29th August 2016
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2016T908
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Decoration style: Other
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Dover (District)
Parish or ward: Nonington (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TR2652
Four figure Latitude: 51.22243351
Four figure longitude: 1.23515874
1:25K map: TR2652
1:10K map: TR25SE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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