PAS Finds: week ended 10 December 2021

December 17, 2021 Peter

PAS Finds: week ended 10 December 2021

My selection from the 427 finds recorded at the PAS for the week ended 10 December 2021.

Featured Find

Gold puzzle ring

Photo: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum CC By SA2.0

Object type: Ring

Period: Post Medieval

Primary material: Gold

Date found: 06/12/2021

Location: Wiltshire

A gold puzzle finger ring thought to date to AD 1700 – 1900 consisting of three interlinking gold hoops. There seem to be a few theories as to the origin of these rings

Turkish puzzle rings

These rings are sometimes called Turkish puzzle rings although there is little evidence that they originated there. The story goes that a Turkish king wanted to ensure the faithfulness of his wife. He commissioned the royal jeweler to design a ring that would fall apart, if the queen were to remove it (presumably to commit adultery).

Gimmal rings

The idea behind puzzle rings is very similar to that of gimmal rings. In the 16th and 17th centuries, such rings were fashionable in England. On becoming engaged engaged the couple would wear one hoop each and rejoin them to use as a wedding ring. With triple link rings, a third person could witness the couple’s vows and hold the third part of the ring until the marriage.

Selection of other finds

Photo: North Lincolnshire Museum CC By SA2.0

Victoria half sovereign finger ring

Copper and gold finger ring with a half sovereign of Victoria from the Old Head Coinage of 1893-1901. In excellent condition for a detecting find.

Photo: Birmingham Museums Trust CC By 2.0

Medieval mount of reclining knight

This incomplete plaque of a reclining knight would have been part of a larger frieze in a church of chapel. The knight represents the Roman soldier who would have been guarding Christ’s tomb as part of the Medieval Resurrection scene. It is a Find of Note: County importance.

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By 2.0

James I penny

The penny exhibits a known issue error of the reverse legend TVEATVR VNITA DEVS (“May God protect those united”) also present on the reverse instead of the usual I D G ROSA SINE SPINA. Consequently designated a Find of Note.

Photo: North Lincolnshire Museum CC By SA2.0

Viking weight

This is believed to be a weight for measuring silver bullion during the Norse rule of the “kingdom” of York and Dublin. Weighing 17.63g, it is very close to four units of measure (of 4.43g)) used by the Viking rulers. The cross in the design suggest this ind postdates their conversion to Christianity – the suggested date is AD 875 – 950. It is a Find of Note: Regional Importance.