Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) circa 500 AD
This rare early Christian silver ring of traditional design features a bezel flanked by two pairs of silver pellets and is engraved with two angels facing one another, jointly holding a long cross.
The engraved scene echoes iconography found on late Roman and early Byzantine coinage. Beginning in the mid-4th century, two angels symbolizing Victory appear on Roman coins, and the cross held by the angels on this ring closely resembles the form and proportions of the cross held by the emperor on late Roman gold solidi of Valentinian III, struck between 426 and 430 AD. The motif of an angel holding a long cross as a symbol of Victory remained especially popular on Byzantine coinage of the 5th and 6th centuries.
The engraved matrix measures 14 x 13 mm (9/16 x 1/2 in.)
Condition: The silver ring is structurally solid and fully wearable.
Weight is 6.08 grams
Ring size 6 (17 mm) resizable
