Bronze ring in an orchard

[DiggingSicilia]

I was detecting in an olive/ almond orchard


and found

Can't really make out the inscription though. The letters look Greek. And possibly backwards

 

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[Marino13]

Super cool, that looks very old. What part of the country ?

 

[Marino13]

It could be a seal ring.

 

[DiggingSicilia]

Super cool, that looks very old. What part of the country ?

I'm in Sicily Italy.

 

[DiggingSicilia]

It could be a seal ring.

That's what I was thinking. I'm afraid if I clean it it will be smooth. Can't tell if the crust is corrosion or just 100s of years of soil.

 

[Marino13]

I'll leave it to the experts on cleaning it, but please keep us posted if it cleans up and you can ID it.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

A really cool old Ring - looks like it's been in the ground for a long time !

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Since we are not protecting 'minty luster' like on coins, try a vibratory method with mild abrasive and jeweler's rouge. I use my cartridge case cleaner ( for ammo reloading) which looks like:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2702/8842/products/711534.jpg

Because it is what I have. You can put corn cob media in the unit then put your item in small jar, plastic or glass ( vitamin/aspirin size, anything really that allows it to move around well) with the rouge and perhaps walnut media. Tape the lid.

This keeps your shaker clean and saves you on materials.

If that doesn't separate everything off that is not your item, then you might want to up the hardness step by step until you get results.

 

[DiggingSicilia]

Since we are not protecting 'minty luster' like on coins, try a vibratory method with mild abrasive and jeweler's rouge. I use my cartridge case cleaner ( for ammo reloading) which looks like:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2702/8842/products/711534.jpg

Because it is what I have. You can put corn cob media in the unit then put your item in small jar, plastic or glass ( vitamin/aspirin size, anything really that allows it to move around well) with the rouge and perhaps walnut media. Tape the lid.

This keeps your shaker clean and saves you on materials.

If that doesn't separate everything off that is not your item, then you might want to up the hardness step by step until you get results.

I'm going to forego cleaning, I dropped it on my marble countertop on accident and the crust on the top came off. Now only a couple letters are visible.

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks like a Roman Period ring to me.

 

[DiggingSicilia]

Looks like a Roman Period ring to me.

I'm thinking Byzantine, Greek was the language used by the empire. If you look at rings that belonging to the Romans, most have figures not a lot of lettering whereas rings from the Byzantine Empire have long inscriptions in Greek. This was the ring belonging to John, Imperial Spatharios.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm thinking Byzantine, Greek was the language used by the empire. If you look at rings that belonging to the Romans, most have figures not a lot of lettering whereas rings from the Byzantine Empire have long inscriptions in Greek. This was the ring belonging to John, Imperial Spatharios.
View attachment 2140558

Makes sense, if it is Greek and not something else.

 

[DiggingSicilia]

Makes sense, if it is Greek and not something else.

Top from right to let if signet ring:
Lambda Epsilon Omicron or Leo.
The second row is more difficult to read but looks like it starts with alpha.

 

[oldmxrat]

Cool find!

 

[Digger RJ]

I was detecting in an olive/ almond orchard
View attachment 2140378 View attachment 2140372

and found
View attachment 2140365 View attachment 2140366 View attachment 2140367 View attachment 2140368 View attachment 2140369 View attachment 2140370 View attachment 2140371
Can't really make out the inscription though. The letters look Greek. And possibly backwards

Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[BLACKIE555]

Cool ring!

 

[billb]

Outstanding
Congratulations on your achievement
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[scruggs]

Congratulations on what appears to be an ancient ring recovery!