Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A late Medieval gold posy ring, bead edged, inscribed to the exterior in black letter script ‘DE BON COER’, translating from French as ‘OF GOOD HEART’, the words spaced with engraved floral detail, no maker’s mark or hallmarks, ring size N½. £2,000-£3,000

This ring was discovered in Devon and is recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database ref: DEV-C41AOF and has subsequently been disclaimed.




See Oman, Charles: ‘British Rings 800-1914’, pub. Batsford, 1974, page 39, notes that black letter inscriptions were popular on love rings from the mid 14th century onwards, with examples from the 15th century typically being band rings.


See Evans, Joan: ‘English Posies and Posy Rings’, pub. Wartski, London, 2012, 2nd edition, page 7, for reference to two examples bearing the same inscription: Collection of Sir Arthur Evans and British Museum (Signet Ring) Ref: 1967,1208.4.