12th-8th century BC. A triple-banded gold 'ring money' or adornment, a composite collar-type ring comprising three conjoined bands. Cf. Taylor, J.T., Bronze Age Goldwork of the British Isles, Cambridge, 1980, pl.30h (which was found at Granta Fen, Ely, Cambs) and 34d and 34e. 3.43 grams, 14mm (1/2"). Property of an Essex gentleman; acquired from John Moor, York, UK, in 2010; previous in an old continental collection formed before 1980. Chris Rudd says: 'Though primarily made as a piece of jewellery – almost certainly a tress-ring in this instance – such rings probably had a secondary purpose too, as a convenient method of portable wealth storage. In that sense one might justifiably regard these items as a form of primitive pre-coinage money, although today’s archaeologists are keen that we refer to them as ‘penannular rings’ rather than ‘ring money.'