Gold posy ring, 'A true friends gift'. A smoothly conforming yellow gold D-shape band, engraved to the interior in italic script 'A true friends gift', approximately 3.5mm in width. Tested yellow gold, markers mark 'CR' within a square punchmark, approximately 2.90 grams in weight, circa late 17th-early 18th century.
Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme stating that this ring was found whilst metal detecting in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire in 2018. It is recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference NARC-F05087; and disclaimed under the Treasure Act, reference 2019-T371.
This posy motto was a stock favourite, with several different versions of the phrase being catalogued in 'English Posies and Posy Rings', Evans, J., 1931, p24. The inscription on this example is fairly common, (for another example see British Museum AF.1190 marked WG, possibly for William Gallant, fl. 1611-1647, or William Goble, fl.1636-1650). It is still in use on similar rings today. The arrangement of the letters however is indicative of the late 17th-early 18th century, particularly with regards to the cursive and lower and mixed case font. The use of long 's' and the tails on 'h' and 'y' are also indicators of posies from this period.
