Gold posy ring 'Vertue is honner'. A smoothly conforming shallow D-shape band, engraved to the exterior with a repeating pattern of paisley, foliate, floral and crosshatching details, the interior engraved in italic script 'Vertue is honner', approximately 3mm in width. Tested yellow gold, approximately 1.4 grams in weight, maker's mark 'R' within a punchmark, circa 17th century.
Accompanied by documentation from the Portable Antiquities Scheme stating that this ring was found on 29th June 2014 in Horton, South Gloucestershire, UK. This ring is recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference GLO-5321BC and disclaimed as Treasure under the Treasure Act, reference 2014T701.
See Evans, J., 'English Posies and Posy Rings', 1931, p. 105 for variations on the posy theme of virtue- none catalogued bear this exact inscription. This maker's mark is not listed in 'London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks & Lives', Grimwade, Arthur G., 1976.
At this point in history, there was no standardisation of spelling- the introduction of Dr Johnson's Dictionary, published on 15th April 1755, brought about radical change and started the process of regularising spelling.
