SWNS
Posted on 06/08/2025 9:55:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
A 350-year-old ring belonging to the Sheriff of Nottingham is set to fetch thousands at auction after being unearthed by a metal detectorist in a find 'worthy of Robin Hood'.
The ancient, high-carat gold signet ring was uncovered by chance by a lucky detectorist on farmland in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire, last summer.
The treasure once belonged to Sir Matthew Jenison, who served as High Sheriff of Nottingham between 1683 and 1684 and looked after trees in Sherwood Forest.
His family were known for gleaning wealth from a hoard of valuables left in their safekeeping during the English Civil War which were never reclaimed.
The ring, which displays the coat of arms of the Jenison family, was sent to be examined by experts from the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Once it was verified as authentic, it was sent back to the finder, who is now set to make a good amount from his incredible discovery...
Born in 1654, Sir Matthew was knighted in 1683 and acted as a commissioner to examine decaying trees in Sherwood Forest while serving as High Sheriff of Nottingham.
Sir Matthew was elected to parliament as MP for Newark in 1701, but eventually fell foul of the law. He died in Fleet Prison in 1734.
Originally from county Durham, the Nottinghamshire branch of the Jenison family first appeared as aldermen of Newark in 1580.
Thereafter, each generation served as aldermen, and, after the 1626 charter, as mayors.
(Excerpt) Read more at goodnewsnetwork.org ...
A lot of us think of finding ancient or antique cool stuff rather than valuable stuff, this would be a very cool thing to find.
Just gorgeous.
I would like to steal that from him and give it to the poor
I wonder if it was used as a seal on letters with wax.
Good idea.
Definitely.
Did Robin Hood ever have it?
Why of course! How else to issue a warrant for that scoundrel Robin of Locksley?
“His family were known for gleaning wealth from a hoard of valuables left in their safekeeping during the English Civil War which were never reclaimed.”
******************************
“I say - isn’t that the gold that Robin of Locksley’s father gave to us for safe-keeping?”
“Yes - sadly he died in the war.”
Feared by the bad….loved by the good…..Robin Hood….. Robin Hood…..
He was stunned. But what about his Bieber?
Robin Hood dropped it after one of their meetings...................
Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones was metal detecting for years. His website even had a few recommended models for sale.
A Democrat, or Labour MP, obviously..............
Okay, 350 years old is not “ancient,” and it wasn’t *that* Sheriff of Nottingham.
I despise clickbait headlines.
Detectorists for the win!
LOL!
That’s why the detectorist got his ring back. If it had been a noteworthy enough historical artifact it would have been put in a museum. AFTER paying the detectorist the going rate for the item.
The U.K. really does have a good system set up for this stuff. It promotes the discovery of the stuff, and the knowledge of England’s history.
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