Welsh gold declared treasure

January 27, 2023February 17, 2023 Paul

Four gold rings and a silver annular brooch were declared treasure by the coroner in Gwent, Wales on 25 January 2023. All are expected to go on public display.

St Christopher gold ring

This iconographic gold ring was found by Ron Ford whilst metal detecting on a field in Bishton Community, Newport, on 25^th September 2021. It depicts St Christopher, carrying a baby Jesus on his shoulder whilst wading through water.

Sian Iles of Amgueddfa Cymru said: “Depictions of St Christopher carrying the Christ Child were popular on iconographic rings and devotional jewellery in the medieval period, when saints were venerated for their virtues, and their life stories were celebrated“

Newport Museum & Art Gallery is interested in acquiring this object for its collection

“En Bon An” gold ring

“En Bon An” ring
Photo: © Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

Found by detectorist Paul Tourle in a field in Devauden Community, Monmouthshire, on 10^th September 2021.

It has a bezel whose two faces have been engraved with devotional images. On the left face, a woman in hooded gown teaches a girl with halo and full dress to read from an open book (possibly St Anne teaching the Virgin to read). On the right face, St George is depicted with shield and vertical lance, over a dragon with dotted body. The inside of the hoop is engraved with the legend en bon an (‘A good year’).

Dr Mark Redknap of Amgueddfa Cymru said: “Such rings bearing engravings of one or more Christian figures or scenes and provide tangible evidence for faith and the popularity of images of sacred people and saints. The inscription implies that it was a New Year’s gift.”

Eighteenth century gold ring

This gold ring was found by Terrence Shapcott whilst metal -detecting on pastureland in Llanbradach and Pwll y Pant Community on 22^nd September 2019.

it is inscribed with two pairs of initials and the date 1712. The Winding House Museum in New Tredegar is interested in acquiring this item.