Ring fragment

Fragment of a golden ring

Legend: SIL VI NV

Findspot: Western Ukraine

Date: 3rd-4th century AD

Literature: Quast, Dieter "Ein kleiner Goldhort der jüngeren römischen Kaiserzeit aus Cernivci (ehem. Czernowitz/Cernauti) in der westlichen Ukraine nebst einigen Anmerkungen zu goldenen Kolbenarmringen, in Forschungen zu Spätantike und Mittelalter 2 "Macht des Goldes, Gold der Macht", 171-185) which discusses these rings. Interestingly, the legend is probably a mark of value and not a name (SIL(iquae?) VI NV...). One of the ring fragments shown by Quast shows the inscription SIL IIII O...

Such rings are also mentioned in the Old High German Hildebrandslied, which dates to around 800, but relates events of the 5th century.

In verse 33 Hildebrand takes off golden armrings to give them to his son Hadubrand. In verse 34 it says (according to my Gothic translation) "kaisarahriggans gitanans, swe imma þans þiudans gaf", which means "Imperial rings (or perhaps better 'rings made from imperial gold', like those as the king has given him." This suggests that Germanic people melted down imperial gold (solidi) to make them into rings, which could be worn and if necessary used as gift or for payment. 

Hadubrand, of course, is cautious and says the famous words (according to my Gothic translation) verse 37: "miþ gaisa skal manna gibos andniman, uzds wiþra uzd." which means "you shall receive gifts with the spear - spearpoint against spearpoint". Hadubrand goes on to call Hildebrand "an old Hun", suggesting that the term Hun was used derogatively at the time.

Source : https://www.academia.edu/4275948/Ein_kle...

Collection : Antiquities - Germanic