ivan salis said:more likely a college rather than high school class ring .if its 1898-- back then --wealthy folks sent their kids to college (and could afford "gold rings") -- poor working class folks only went to grade school or maybe "high school" at best , then it was off to work for a living --- very few working class families of the turn of the century could afford such a high priced item -- so odds are good its a college class graduation ring --sort of a "see I'm rich --my family sent me to college and I graduated" statement piece---- ps -- 1898 to 2009 is 111 years --check the math. 1898 to 1900 --2 years 1800 to 2000 --100 years --2000 to 2009 -- 9 years --- 2 + 100 + 9 = 111 years