finger-ring; coin

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Object Type: finger-ring; coin
Museum number: AF.307
Description: Gold finger-ring: bezel comprising a coin (solidus) of Emperor Marcian in high opus interrasile collar. Obverse: bust facing, helmeted, cuirassed and diademed, holds spear over right shoulder and shield. Reverse: Victory standing to left, supporting long jewelled cross. Solid hoop moulded in form of two crouching hares facing up to bezel and appearing to issue from the mouths of dolphins; back of hoop set with cabochon garnet. Openwork.
Cultures/periods: Early Byzantine (?;provincial); Merovingian (use); Late Roman (coin)
Production date: 5thC (coin)
Production place: Minted in: Constantinople
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Rouen; Excavated/Findspot: Seine, River, river-bed
Materials: gold; garnet
Technique: cabochon cut; opus interrasile
Dimensions: Height: 3.60 centimetres; Width: 3.20 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Text from Ward, Cherry et al ,'The Ring from Antiquity to the Twentieth Century', London 1981 Unlike most of their later counterparts, the goldsmiths of the ancient world were often ready to recognize that the human hand has a palm as well as a back, and that both sides stood in need of decoration. It is not uncommon, therefore, to find a suitably small jewel set on the underside of the hoop, opposite the bezel (Pl. 55), which would be displayed when the palm was extended. In this case, the cabochon garnet at the back of the hoop supplies the only touch of colour. The projecting open-work bezel holds a coin of the Emperor Marcian (AD 450-7) with the obverse displayed (see also Pl. 61); the shoulders of the hollow hoop are ornamented, in a delightful touch of fantasy, with a pair of crouching hares, lightly modelled in low relief. An incorrect registration number is given in the book.. F. 130 should read AF 307. 130 is the Dalton 1912 number. Select details from unpublished Summary Catalogue by Marion Archibald, John Kent and Nicholas Lowick, Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum. no. 736. 'Gold solidus of Marcian (450-457): Obv. D N MARCIA-NVS.P.F.AVG; bust facing, helmeted, cuirassed and diademed; holds spear over right shoulder, and shield Rev. VICTOR-AAVGGG 1* CONOB Victory standing to left, supporting long jewelled cross Mint Contantinople Ref. Longuet H., 'Introduction a la numismatique byzantine', pl. 1:2, London 1961'.; Comment from Kidd, Haith & Ager ‘Summary Catalogue’ (draft MS) Provenance: from River Seine at Rouen, dp. Seine Maritime, France Published: DALTON O.M. 1911. Byzantine Art and Archaeology. Oxford, p. 541 no. 210 CABROL F. and LECLERCQ H. 1930. Londres, Dictionnaire d'Archéologie Chrétienne et de Liturgie, IX part 2, col. 2402, fig. 7187 ALENSTAM-PETERSSON B. 1951. Ein merowingischer Goldring aus Ksp. Ledberg, Östergötland, Medd Lunds Års IV for 1950-1951, Lund, p. 218, fig. 6:2 JOHNS C. and POTTER T. 1983. The Thetford Treasure, Roman Jewellery and Silver. London, p. 83
Bibliographic references: Dalton 1901 / Catalogue of Early Christian Antiquities and Objects from the Christian East in the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography of the British Museum (210); Dalton 1912 / Franks Bequest Catalogue of the Finger Rings, Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediaeval and Later, Bequeathed by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks, KCB, in which are included the other rings of the same period in the Museum. (130); Ward et al 1981 / The Ring from Antiquity to the Twentieth Century (101); Yeroulanou 1999 / Diatrita: Gold Pierced-Work Jewellery from the 3rd to the 7th Century (300)
Location: On display (G41/dc18/sA)
Subjects: deity; arms/armour; cross; mammal
Associated names
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1897
Department: Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number: AF.307

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