3rd century AD. A substantial gold finger ring with D-section hoop, pierced with volute scrolls and tendrils, palmettes to the shoulders, the plaque lentoid in plan with similar openwork ornament, central cell with inset nicolo gemstone of an eagle tearing at the body of a hare. Cf. Chadour, A.B. Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 351 for type, 410 for design. 32 grams, 34mm overall, 23.29x17.93mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15) (1 1/3"). From an old family collection formed between 1890 and 1910, thence by descent to the present owner; Accompanied by scholarly note TL 005252 from Dr Ron Bonewitz. The substantial size and weight of the ring and the extremely high quality nicolo stone, with the military symbolism of an eagle attacking a hare, alludes to the power and might of Rome; it could be that the ring was an imperial gift to an extremely high ranking Roman officer, such as a legate, commanding one or more legions as a reward in recognition of his services to the Empire.