Late Medieval iconographic ring. A yellow gold ring featuring a central rectangular bezel, finely engraved with ‘ihc’ within a lozenge shaped panel, the corners decorated with matching floral motifs and leaves, leading to trumpeting shoulders, each featuring straight lines representing the sun’s rays, flowing through to twisted panels to each side of the bezel engraved with ‘en/bo/en/an’ (a good year) between foliage decoration which terminates in a solid twisted shank. Tested yellow gold, approximately 3.15 grams in weight, circa 15th century.
The Christogram ‘IHC’ is an abbreviation of the name Jesus, being the first letters of the name Jesus in Greek alphabet (iota-eta-sigma).
This ring was discovered in 2019 at Roxwell, near Chelmsford, Essex. The ring has been disclaimed under the Treasure Act, 1996, and is documented under the Portable Antiquities Scheme ref ESS-B1E831.
Iconographic rings often feature images of saints with inscriptions relating to new year or a good friend, and appear to have been souvenirs of pilgrimages.
