14th-15th century AD. A gold iconographic ring with facetted bezel of three panels depicting a haloed figure, most likely the Madonna, holding the infant Christ in the centre, haloed figures to each side; the band tapering from the shoulders to the back, decorated with lines of diagonal beading; inscribed to the inside of the bezel in blackletter script 'en bon an', which translates to 'a good year', or 'Happy New Year'. 13.89 grams, 23.79mm overall, 19.28mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20.00, Japan 19) (1"). From the private jewellery collection of a central London lady; acquired in 2004 from the London Coin Fair; formerly the property of a Suffolk gentleman since the late 1980s. Malcolm Jones, Sheffield University, Dept. English Language & Linguistics, Senior Lecturer 1994-2009 and advisor to the British Museum and Portable Antiquities Scheme, says: 'en bon an -- first word is not the indefinite article but a preposition, so translation is a little misleading. Such rings were given as New Year presents and so there is an implicit wish that the recipient will have a good year – the inscription is fairly common and I'd be tempted to render it Happy New Year – cf. in the BM, the iconographic ring AF.919 and remarks there.' [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Very fine condition. A large wearable size.