A metal detectorist searching a field in Somerset has uncovered a spectacular Roman gold ring that lay buried for nearly 1,700 years. The artifact, known as the Ilminster Ring, dates to a period when Roman Britain had broken away from the empire.
WhenKevin Minto‘s metal detector signaled in a field near Ilminster, he expected another Roman coin. After all, he had already recovered many of them from the same site. What emerged from the ground instead was a heavy gold ring unlike anything he had found before.
Found alongside a hoard of coins and other objects, the treasure stands out for both its craftsmanship and its size. Experts say it ranks among the finest examples of Roman jewelry ever discovered in Britain.
A Luxury Object Made For Someone Important
The Ilminster Ring weighs nearly 48 grams and is crafted from solid gold. Set into the front is a bluish-gray gemstone engraved with a detailed image of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory.
As explained in a statement published by South West Heritage Trust, the scene shows Victoria driving a two-horse chariot while holding a whip and reins. She is depicted with wings and a helmet, symbols closely linked to triumph and military success in Roman culture. The image was carved using the intaglio method, a technique in which the design is cut into the stone rather than raised from it.
Amal Khreisheh, senior curator at The South West Heritage Trust, described the ring as both large and heavy, noting its elaborate gold work and finely executed engraving. She added that:
“While other examples are known, these elements combine to create a spectacular ring that is only paralleled by continental discoveries.”
The sheer amount of gold suggests the ring belonged to someone of considerable means. Researchers have suggested the owner may have been a wealthy landowner, merchant, or local official.
Buried During Britain’s Break From Rome
The ring was not discovered alone. It formed part of a hoard that included 297 Roman coins, as well as lead and pottery objects. Its burial date places it immediately after one of the most turbulent episodes in Britain’s Roman history. Between 286 and 296 C.E., the province operated separately from the wider Roman Empire under the rule of Carausius and later Allectus. Historians often refer to this period as the Carausian Revolt.
For people with wealth, those years brought uncertainty. Political change, shifting allegiances, and security concerns could make protecting valuables a priority. Across Roman Britain, some individuals chose to bury possessions in the hope of returning for them later.
Information released by The South West Heritage Trust indicates that the Ilminster Ring was likely hidden shortly after this period ended. Whoever buried it never came back. Khreisheh also explained that:
“Usually archaeologists handle broken things – such as pieces of pottery or animal bones. Things like this don’t come along very often,”
A Life-changing Discovery For A Detectorist
Minto began exploring the site in 2017 and gradually recovered Roman coins from the area. The following year, he uncovered the gold ring. Speaking to The Guardian, he recalled the moment he realized what he had found. At first, he thought the object might be a coin. Then he considered that it could be a brooch. Only after taking a closer look did he understand it was a gold ring.
“It’s hard to explain what if feels like when you find something like that,” he remarked. “It was like being hit by an express train. At first I thought it was a coin, then a brooch, and then realised it was a ring. You’re a little dumbfounded, really. One of the boys I was with was screaming: ‘We’re rich, we’re rich.’”
Researchers now plan further analysis to determine whether the piece was made in Britain or brought in from another part of the Roman Empire. They also hope to investigate whether a lead-lined coffin discovered by Minto in the same field could be linked to the individual who owned the artifact.
