LOT 0185

Roman Gold Ring with Gemstone for Servius

MID 3RD CENTURY A.D.

3/4 in. (11.63 grams, 20.37 mm overall, 16.48 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)).

With balustered hoop, broad shoulders with scrolled foliage detailing, discoid bezel with cell, inset nicolo gemstone with reversed 'SER/VIV' for SER(VI) VIV(AS) inscription in seriffed capitals, meaning 'Long may you live Servius'.

UK private collection formed before 2000.
Ex North London, UK, gallery.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.11995-211017.

Cf. Higgins, R.A., Greek and Roman Jewellery, London, 1961; Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 184, for type; for the inscription see Glare P.G.W., A Latin Dictionary, London, 1968-82, page 1,746/3; for the use of nicolo gemstones with inscription on Roman rings and of nicolo gemstones on the same typology of rings see Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 347, 420; similar finds are known in the collection of the British Museum (Higgings, 1961, p.190, no.3, pl.62E, 63D) and Mainz.

'Serviu[s]' is a second declension praenomen (Glare, P.G.W., A Latin Dictionary, London, 1968-82, page 1,746/3) apparently based on the noun 'servus' (servant, minister, office-holder). The name was in use in Consular and Imperial times, and was the patronym of important Roman Gens, like the Gens Servilia.