Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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FINGER RING
Unique ID: LIN-57758F
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Treasure reference no. 2016 T978: a late medieval or early post-medieval gold finger ring. The ring is formed of a thick hoop, D-shaped in section and decorated with an ornate engraved exterior. Both perimeters of the hoop are defined by a thin band, between which is an inscription in lower case black-lettering. The letters of the inscription stand proud of the background. The background is decorated with intense, tight stippling. Separating the last and first words of the inscription is a small engraved diamond shape.
The inscription is difficult to read and originally was suggested to be 'a god hat(h) m(y) hert'. However, Malcom Jones has tentatively suggested a more correct reading would be "a god wat ic beict" i.e. "a god wat is beist" ['a good man is best']. Malcom explains that the first letter is the letter "a", with the next two words reading "god wat" = a good man [MED wat.1 -- a 15C word, which fits with the stylistic dating]. Then Malcom reads the next word as "is" [though here spelled "ic" in the Anglo-French spelling convention, despite being an English word] The final word he sees as a modern English "best", but spelled "beict" i.e. "beist" [invoking the same AF spelling convention].
The style of lettering is similar to a 15th century ring from Dorset (PAS ref. DOR-2342BA), as indeed is the rendering of 'hert' (heart), though the motto is incised rather than standing proud.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to landowner after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T978
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 4 mm
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Weight: 5.16 g
Diameter: 20 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 21st November 2016 - Monday 21st November 2016
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2016T978
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: South Holland (District)
To be known as: Pinchbeck area
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
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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