Rare Roman-era gold ring found by metal detectorist

A rare gold Roman ring from more than 1,700 years ago — depicting Victoria, the goddess of victory — has proven to be a big win for an amateur metal detectorist in England. Kevin Minto found the ring, referred to as the Ilminster Ring, while searching a field in the town that now gives the ring its name, according to the South West Heritage Trust. "The Ilminster Ring is both large and heavy, with elaborate goldwork and a beautifully executed intaglio," Amal Khreisheh, senior curator at South West Heritage Trust, said in a statement. "While other examples are known, these elements combine to create a spectacular ring that is only paralleled by continental discoveries." The Ilminster Ring, which dates back to Roman-occupied Britain in 279 AD, was found by a metal detectorist in 2018 in Somerset, England. It just sold for $105,000. South West Heritage Trust Minto received a big windfall this week when the South West Heritage Trust announced the purchase of the ring, originally found in 2018, for just over 78,000 pounds (about $105,000). The ring dates back to about 279 AD and features an engraved gemstone, known as an intaglio, of the Roman goddess of victory — maybe more known for her Greek name, Nike — riding a chariot pulled by two horses. It weighs 48 grams, much larger than even a heavyweight ring today. "[The ring's] discovery sheds light on how South Somerset's Roman inhabitants navigated a period of unrest from 286-296," said Khreisheh. …