A gold ring from the Middle Ages found by metal detectorists in Suffolk is set to hit the auction block with an expectation it fetches around £10,000.
Found by friends Aaron Pizzey and James Race near a ploughed field near Stoke Ash more than two years ago, the 14th Century item is a seal ring and features a carnelian intaglio engraved with the image of a griffin.
The ring is also engraved with the words “GRIFFVnMATILIELEMATILIOVR”. That translates to “griffin Matilda the maternal countess”, leading experts to believe the ring once belonged to Matilda of Lancaster, a noblewoman who’s nephew would become Henry IV.
The ring is being auctioned by Noonans on September 22 with Nigel Mills, a consultant for the house, saying of the ring: “The seal ring has a Medieval carnelian intaglio engraved with the image of a Griffin walking to the left, set in the centre of the gold oval bezel which has a flat border inscribed in lombardic script ‘GRIFFVnMATILIELEMATILIOVR’ which may translate as ‘griffin Matilda the maternal countess’. This could suggest the ring belonged to Matilda of Lancaster who became countess of Ulster. In 1347-8 she became a canoness of the Augustinian Campsey Priory just 20 miles from where the ring was found.”
Pizzey also detailed how the find came about: “That morning had proved fruitless on the first two fields we had searched, so we tried one more field. I had a faulty headset and was about to throw it into the hedge when Jim, who is a product development engineer said: ‘It’s a good omen, you’ll find Gold.’ Thirty seconds later my Minelab Nox 800 gave a cracking signal, digging down I saw in a clod of earth the colour of gold. ‘Gold!’ I shouted to Jim who ignored me thinking it was a joke. Then he saw me waving holding the seal with a big grin on my face”
The ring has an estimated value between £10,000 and £12,000 with Pizzey and Race set to split the fee with the landowner. The metal detecting duo added that any proceeds would be put towards new equipment and also home renovations.
Finds of centuries old jewellery are becoming increasingly common across the UK with a rare 16th Century ring recently found in Gloucestershire.
Originally uncovered in 2024 by keen metal detector Stuart Jones, the ring was found after a seven hour search in the village though its recovery was difficult as one diamond was knocked out during the discovery and another was missing entirely. Jones then managed to find the missing diamond by sieving soil back at his house.
Following tests conducted by the British Museum, it was determined that the ring dates from the 16th Century and features a very rare eight hogback diamond design with the gold totalling 19.2 karats, the standard established by Edward I in 1300.
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