A treasure hunter who found two matching gold rings dating back 600 years is to sell them for a combined £30,000 ($40,000).
One of the jewels is a larger ring to be worn over a glove while the other is smaller and would have been worn on the same finger but under the hand garment.
The two rings are being sold at auction on October 12 in Dorchester.
A treasure hunter who found two matching gold rings dating back 600 years is to sell them for a combined £30,000 ($40,000). The glove and the remains of the wealthy owner have long perished but the two rings lay buried in a field in Dorset for six centuries
The glove and the remains of the wealthy owner have long perished but the two rings lay buried in a field in Dorset for six centuries.
They were unearthed by an unnamed metal detectorist.
After declaring them to the local coroner, it was ruled the treasure was not of significant interest to a museum so it was a case of ‘finders keepers’.
The two rings are now coming up for sale at Duke’s Auctioneers of Dorchester, Dorset.
The ‘outer’ ring is said to be incredibly rare, with a band of four decorated annular brooch motifs. It is 22mm in diameter and weighs 3.6g.
The smaller finger ring features a gothic letter R, which was probably the initial of the medieval owner. It is 19mm in diameter and weighs 1.9g.
Timothy Medhurst, from Duke’s Auctioneers, said: ‘They were found in a field in Dorset by a metal detectorist who declared them, only for them to come back to him.
‘One ring was found inside the other. There was no sign of the glove which had long perished.
The outer ring has been given a pre-sale estimate of £25,000 ($33,000) while the inner one is said to be worth £5,000 ($6,600). The smaller finger ring features a gothic letter R, which was probably the initial of the medieval owner. It is 19mm in diameter and weighs 1.9g
‘They are French in style so it is highly likely they would have been worn by someone who was visiting from France.
‘They would have been someone of very high standing, like a bishop or a lord.’
The outer ring has been given a pre-sale estimate of £25,000 ($33,000) while the inner one is said to be worth £5,000 ($6,600).
Mr Medhurst said: ‘I have never seen a ring like the outer one before. The market tends to react very well to unique items of jewellery. That is what collectors are seeking.
‘The inner ring is a more known of style of ring.’
He added: ‘The finder will have come to an arrangement with the landowner in terms of how to split the proceeds of the sale but nevertheless I imagine it will be a life changing sum on money for him.’
The two rings are being sold on October 12 in Dorchester.
The glove and the remains of the wealthy owner have long perished but the two rings lay buried in a field in Dorset for six centuries