(summarised from source)

A fine Roman ring was found in 1862 among the ruins of the Church of St. Martin-Le-Grand, on the western side of Market Square, Dover. The ring, is of base white metal, probably silver, or of iron plated with silver, the setting being an intaglio on sard, set in a small collet of gold. The device on the gem is a horse, with the Greek letters—HPAKΛI — above, and, underneath—AHC—probably the name of a favourite horse of the owner of the ring. The first of the three letters under the horse is indistinct. It has been suggested that this ring is relatively early in date; possibly 1st-2nd century, and it is rare to find so good a work in the ancient setting, although it is possibly later than the gem itself. The name, ΗΡΑΚΛΙ or Heraclides, appears to refer to the horse; the name of an owner of the gem or ring is by rule inscribed in the genitive. Such heroic names as that found here were, in fact, given to horses. Eugenius, a famous auriga, is figured on a contorniato with his four steeds, Achilles, Desiderius, Speciosus, and Dignus.


The setting of this ring may probably be ascribed to the time of the Lower Empire, because it is evident that when Pliny wrote, about A.D. 72-75, rings were customarily of iron when not of gold, for he speaks of silver rings assumed by Arellius Fuscus, as if to wear such ornaments had been very unusual. But Isidore, five centuries later, states that the gold, silver, and iron ring distinguished the free-born, the freed man, and the slave respectively. The gold bezel surrounding the gem is not uncommon where the ring itself is of silver. It may deserve notice that there was a small silver bead or rim attached by solder to the hoop on each of its margins; this rim, appears to have been formed with a little shoulder or projection on each side; part of this has broken away but originally the rim was doubtless continuous all around the hoop. (1)

<1> Ambrose Poynter, 1864, Archaeological Journal. Proceedings at Meetings of the Royal Archaeological institute. Vol. 21, Arch J 21 1864 263-264 (Dr Astley) (Article in serial). SKE32123.