Most amazing find in 38 years detecting.....and it's GOLD!

[doninbrewster]

I've been detecting for more than 38 years and even though I've found a gold coin, kettle points, Fugio, CT, VT, NJ coppers and a whole lot more, this easily ranks as my most interesting find ever. It's not just a gold ring, but a very interesting one. You see, the building that is engraved on the top is the Cathedral of Turin. That's not even the interesting part. The ring opens up. Inside, underneath a small piece of glass is a piece of fabric. Could it be a piece of the Shroud of Turin? I keep thinking about it and I can't figure out what else it might be. The ring was found about 5 inches down, not far from and at the same depth as an Indian head penny. My guess is it's been there for at least 100 years, but the ring itself could be much older. The side detail also looks like it was hand engraved, not just a casting. Like I said, I've found some great stuff over the years, but nothing compares to this. Thoughts?





Cathedral of Turin

 

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[pganjon]

Hello, Awesome find! Could it be one of those scent rings where they put perfume or some other sweet smelling liquid that they could sniff when in a foul area. I know women had such things on a pendant in Victorian times. Thanks for sharing Paul7

 

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[sutphin]

ONE WICKED AWS FIND.

 

[nhbenz]

Instead of cloth, could it be a deteriorated photo?

 

[Doubter in MD]

Instead of cloth, could it be a deteriorated photo?
View attachment 1571605

Excellent question.

Don, could you post more pictures of the inside? Thanks.

 

[doninbrewster]

Excellent question.

Don, could you post more pictures of the inside? Thanks.

Instead of cloth, could it be a deteriorated photo?
View attachment 1571605

Very similar the way it opens. Mine is definitely cloth inside. It would be used as something for a perfume scent as it is covered with glass. This is about as good a pic as I can get.

 

[DCMatt]

This is one of the coolest relics I've ever seen on T-net.

I've put a few hours in on this thread and haven't seen anything on the internet that is even remotely close to this ring.

After doing some research, I think the thread started on a bad assumption, then suffered from 'group think'.

So let's start again...

There is nothing about this ring that makes it religious. No crosses or symbols or other religious indications.

Most of the reliquary jewelry I've seen is obviously religious with a prominent cross/crucifix or saint on it.

So, it's a Victorian locket ring. Many today are called 'poison rings', but in the Victorian era they were often worn as mourning rings.

As others said, they typically had a photo or some other reminder of a person or place.

The image on the ring, to my eye, seems to be a medieval watchtower near mountains. Old Europe?

The fabric inside? A piece of wedding clothes? A bit of a flag? I did learn that ambrotype and daguerreotype photographs were sometimes mounted on fabric.

Of course, none of this gets us any closer to IDing the ring or the image on it, but I feel it points the research in a better direction if anyone wants to jump back in.

I'll be glad to continue if the original poster will give us an in-focus, hi-res photo of the ring so we can scrutinize the details.

 

[Doubter in MD]

This is one of the coolest relics I've ever seen on T-net.

I've put a few hours in on this thread and haven't seen anything on the internet that is even remotely close to this ring.

After doing some research, I think the thread started on a bad assumption, then suffered from 'group think'.

So let's start again...

There is nothing about this ring that makes it religious. No crosses or symbols or other religious indications.

Most of the reliquary jewelry I've seen is obviously religious with a prominent cross/crucifix or saint on it.

So, it's a Victorian locket ring. Many today are called 'poison rings', but in the Victorian era they were often worn as mourning rings.

As others said, they typically had a photo or some other reminder of a person or place.

The image on the ring, to my eye, seems to be a medieval watchtower near mountains. Old Europe?

The fabric inside? A piece of wedding clothes? A bit of a flag? I did learn that ambrotype and daguerreotype photographs were sometimes mounted on fabric.

Of course, none of this gets us any closer to IDing the ring or the image on it, but I feel it points the research in a better direction if anyone wants to jump back in.

I'll be glad to continue if the original poster will give us an in-focus, hi-res photo of the ring so we can scrutinize the details.

I agree with you on the coolness of this find. I don't know why it hasn't made the banner.

As to whether it's religious in nature, I'm not sure. The buildings in question aren't readily identifiable. I know the OP thinks that maybe it depicts the Cathedral of Turin but there are enough differences that I'm doubtful of that.

 

[JamesR1964]

My guess it’s a poison ring. The cloth would of held the poison. Back in those days it mite have been easier to off your self instead of being tortured. Believe it or not I found one similar. Missing the glass and cover. Mine was found in the water. We don’t just read history. We find it. I vote banner for sure. By the way, don’t eat the cloth inside just in case��

 

[DownNDirty]

Very similar the way it opens. Mine is definitely cloth inside. It would be used as something for a perfume scent as it is covered with glass. This is about as good a pic as I can get.

View attachment 1574459

In this photo I can see what appears to be a silhouette, possibly what's left of a photograph. But then again that's just speculation on my part. It could be the same as interpreting clouds as animal shapes.

 

[Rubka888]

Sure does look a lot like the one on this page with a photo of someone in it. Looks spot on to me

 

[Rubka888]

 

[Rubka888]

Really? The 1916 church in my last post looks nothing like this imo

 

[hucklburry]

awesome find, but to me, the scene, especially on the left half, almost has an oriental look to it. Does that make sense? Just a thought to throw out there.

I think the image is too far off to be Turin, and I am thinking it was a photo inside, but I haven't held this is my hands to see it, and I would love to have found it myself!

 

[s2ndjetli]

yea, the more I look at it the more I think your right, The reason I jumped was a ring with the church like this is missing in New York and I was thinking maybe this was it.. Dang. NEVERMIND. my bad

 

[Jaba]

Very cool !

 

[paper plate on a stick]

Have you found out anything new on your search about the ring?