4th century AD. A gold finger ring with raised rectangular plaque, inscribed in seriffed capitals 'CONSTANTINO FIDEM' (faithful to Constantine"). Cf. Spier, J., Treasures of the Ferrell Collection, Wiesbaden, 2010, no.42 and p.8 for another example and discussion on this series of allegiance rings; another example found at Amiens, France, and acquired by the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, acquisition no. GR.1.1975; another acquired by the British Museum, reference 1917,0501.649.10.56 grams, 25.88mm overall, 23.33mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+1, USA 12 3/4, Europe 29.99, Japan 28) (1"). Property of an East Anglian collector; formerly acquired on the European art market in the 1990s; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.158308-10027.. Such rings, declaring allegiance and loyalty to the emperor, were presented to military officers of high rank as part of their annual bonus payments and this practice commenced under Constantine I, the Great; the inclusion of the chi-rho confirms that this was after the conversion to Christianity. After his death in 337 AD, his sons Constantius II, Constantine II and Constans ruled the empire together and the practice, from very rare survivals, is known to have continued until the reign of Magentius (350-353 AD"). A video of this lot can be viewed on Timeline Auctions website.