The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Ring Money

Ring Money

c. 100–50 BCE
Diameter: 1.8 cm (11/16 in.)
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Ring money could be strung, allowing you to wear your wealth and easily carry it with you.

Description

Used in the ancient world from c. 1600 BC, gold ring money was also in general use in Ireland around 100-50 BC. It was used in Britain as well but not to the same extent. This piece was found at Norman Leighton, Warwickshire, almost the central county of England. As a means of exchange, gold was scarce in Britain until successive waves of invaders from the mainland, fleeing the expanding power of the Romans, brought with them degraded staters, an ancient gold coin of the Greeks.
  • -1969
    Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1969-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. 1968. p. 1
  • Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).
    English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).
  • {{cite web|title=Ring Money|url=false|author=|year=c. 100–50 BCE|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.142