Treasure Inquests Concluded 9 April 2026

INQUEST OF T92 – Gold inscribed finger ring

A complete but slightly disfigured gold finger ring, with internal inscription, dating to c.AD 1550-1650.

The ring is broadly circular in shape and has become slightly squashed.

The external face of the band is decorated with a moulded design that is divided into three bands.

The central band is presented as a twisted rope motif with plan line through the centre. It is flanked above and below by a matching scrolled floral motif that presents small patches of dark blue enamel.

The interior of the band presents two lines of an inscription written in Roman capitals and divided by a central line.

It reads: + MI FRINDE SHALL FINDE / MI FAITHE VNFANID.

Reading in modern English, My friend shall find my faith unfeigned.

INQUEST OF T348 – Incomplete Silver Crowned Heart Shaped Brooch

An incomplete silver gilt heart-shaped brooch dating to the post medieval period (c.AD 1600-1700).

The object consists of the upper portion of the brooch which is presented as heart shaped with an openwork crown on top.

Below the crown and between the two curves of the heart is a mostly complete pin that is looped around the constriction bar.

The frame is sub-triangular in section and terminates in a worn break towards the point of the heart shape.

The reverse is flat and undecorated. Faint remains of gilding are present on the front and reverse of the frame.

INQUEST OF T516 – Gold finger ring

A complete, post medieval, gold finger ring with a rectangular stone or paste gem set into the bezel, dating to c.AD 1500-1600.

The ring is sub-circular in plan, rectangular in cross section and partially misshapen. It has been assembled by soldering together four separate elements: The band, the shoulders and the bezel.

The shoulders feature a double-scrolled motif resembling a pelta, incised with radiating linework followed by cross hatching which continues onto the band.

The bezel is an elongated quatrefoil shape, with sloped sides which meet in a raised rectangular setting.

The sides are decorated with incised, curvilinear linework; the longer edges feature double arches with spirals within.

The shorter edges resemble shields, with detailed linework, possibly floral decoration, within.

The stone or paste gem remains. It is deeply recessed, flat (likely a table cut), and a deep red colour, possibly ruby or garnet.

INQUEST OF T647 – Two groups of medieval silver coins dating to Edward III

89 medieval silver coins and lead container in the shape of a Cornish pasty.

The coins follow a broad profile spanning the reigns of Edward I (1272-1307) to Henry V (1413-1422), with the majority falling into the reigns of Edward III and Henry V.

Lead parcels are a fairly common feature associated with Medieval and earlier hoards, but the recovery of an intact vessel such as this is unusual.

The survival of the coins alongside their container demonstrate they were probably all deposited on a single occasion and were buried with the intention of being recovered. As such, this hoard qualifies as Treasure Trove under the current legislation.

INQUEST OF T954 – Gold enamelled posy ring

A complete gold finger ring, with internal inscription, dating to c.AD 1600-1700.

The ring is circular with a D-shaped section. It has a decorated external band and an internal inscription.

The external face of the band is decorated with a moulded design of a wave that travels around the band.

The part of the wave that traverses the band is broadly leaf shaped with a defined border and in the centre is white enamel.

The interior of the band is decorated with an italic inscription that reads “More true then tried”.

INQUEST OF T1059 – Post Medieval gold and black and white enamel posy ring

A Post Medieval enamelled gold finger ring dating c. AD 1550-1600.

The outer surface features a repeating cast pattern of trapezoidal panels with three pellets within each one.

The boarders defining each panel are angled, raised and plain. There is also a raised ridge along each of the band edges.

Most of the panels are void of enamel. However, some have traces of either white or black enamel in an arrangement indicating an alternating pattern of black and white panels.

The inside of the band features an inscription in block Roman lettering. This reads '* YOVRS * TO * COMMAND*', with a six-point star at the start and end of the inscription, and between each word.

Most of the lettering is void but several star points and each O have traces of black enamelling remaining, suggesting the entire inscription was once filled with black enamel. The rest of the band’s inner surface is plain.

INQUEST OF T1548 – Complete gold filigree Roman ring with intaglio

A gold, Roman, filigree finger ring of Henig IV / Guiraud 4c, with an engraved, glass, nicolo intaglio, dating to c. AD 300-410.

The band is formed from multiple wire components which have been attached to each other.

The central band has a cabled appearance on the exterior surface, produced by carefully crimping a single flat band into repeating diagonal segments and folding the edges between each segment inwards resulting in an undulating effect on the sides.

Two pieces of gold wire have been applied to either edge of the central band creating a border around it.

These wires have been folded back onto themselves in a scrolling manner as they meet the back plate of the bezel.

Circular decorative knops / beads have been applied where they terminate. The band elements connect to the back plate of the bezel, which is a thin, flat, hexagonal sheet, with four more circular decorative knops / beads applied to it at each corner of the bezel.

INQUEST OF T1630 – Silver mount or strap fitting c.AD 900-1100

A complete but in two fragments silver gilt Viking/Anglo-Scandinavian mount or strap fitting dating to c.AD 900-1100.

The object is sub-rectangular in shape with trefoil shaped terminals.

One end is slightly narrower than the other. The narrower end presents three silver rivets that curve at right angles on the reverse.

The other side presents three small circular holes for the attachment of further rivets.

The face presents a cast design that falls into the Ringerike or Urnes style of an interlaced image with a curled serpent-like beast swallowing its own tail. The reverse is flat and undecorated.

The object has a dark grey patina, and small patches of gilding are present in the deep lines between the design.