2nd century AD. A heavy gold ring with ellipsoid hoop widening at the shoulders, the bezel with inset oval nicolo gemstone with a profile head of goddess Rome, or Rhea-Cybele, wearing a turreted crown. Cf. Catalogue of a collection of Ancient Rings formed by the late E. Guilhou, Paris, 1912, no.277; see Marshall, F.H., Dictionnaire Catalogue of the finger rings Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of British Museum, London, 1968, pp.63,76,78,80, pl.X,XIII,XIV, no.351 (classified as 4th century BC), 430, 450, 493,495,503; see Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, pp.191-192, no.246-249, for variant III, type 2 of the Ruseva-Slokoska classification.22.49 grams, 27.74mm overall, 12.6x18.28mm internal diameter (approximate size British G 1/2, USA 3 1/2, Europe 5.55, Japan 5) (1"). Property of a London gentleman; formerly acquired before 1970; accompanied by a copy of an expertise from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 190321; an archaeological expertise from Dr. Raffaele D’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 mural crown, corona muralis, was a decoration of the Roman army, gifted to ‘the first man to have climbed the walls of an enemy’s fortress. It was made of gold, and was considered to be a very important decoration. It was introduced into the Greek art by Eutychides of Sicyon (c.335-c.275 BC), a pupil of the great Lysippus, and the creator of the famous statue of the Tyche of Antioch. This work of art became very famous, and influenced other statues of protective city deities. Some copies of the statue of Artemis of Ephesus also wear a mural crown. A video of this lot can be viewed on Timeline Auctions website.