3rd-4th century AD. An elaborate gold double bezel ring with pierced-work inscription; the pierced section between the bezels spells '???????' (Eutychos) for 'fortunate' or 'use it with luck' and is also a known female name; the two-part engraved inscription divided between the two bezels spells '????????' (Avgoustes) for 'of the Augusta' the female title for an empress. Cf. Marshall, F.H., Dictionnaire Catalogue of the finger rings Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of British Museum, London, 1968, p.102, pl. XVII, no.600; see Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, p.164, for variant III, type IV of the Ruseva-Slokoska classification.5 grams, 20mm overall, 16.6x12.6mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92 Japan 4) (3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly acquired before 1970; accompanied by a copy of a four page report from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 191013; an archaeological expertise from Dr. Raffaele DÂ’Amato; and an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert, Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. TBA. The ring is a doubled form, well known in the Roman world. The type gives the illusion of several rings on the same finger. The type of pierced work, called opus interrasile, was typical from the mid to late Roman period, and visible in some rings like the one in the British Museum dated to 300 AD (Cormack & Vassilaki, 2008, p.185, no.146"). A video of this lot can be viewed on Timeline Auctions website.