Gold Ring that Belonged to Real Sheriff of Nottingham Sold [View all]

On March 24 Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire, England began taking bids on one of the more fascinating historical artifacts they’ve put up for auction. The item they’re selling is a flashy golden signet ring that once belonged to the High Sheriff of Nottingham. No, not that Sheriff of Nottingham . The Sheriff who sought in vain to capture the virtuous outlaw Robin Hood is strictly the stuff of legends.

The ring being auctioned off belonged to a real-life, 17th century version of the Sheriff of Nottingham. This particular sheriff never chased Robin Hood around Sherwood Forest. But he did arrest actual lawbreakers who were caught carrying out their illegal affairs within the city limits of the real Nottingham, and he did so while flashing a fancy piece of finger jewelry that helped attest to his high status.

Adding more color to the story of the High Sheriff of Nottingham’s signet ring is how it was found. It was found in July 2020 by an amateur treasure hunter scanning a section of farmland near Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire with a metal detector. For Graham Harrison, 64, a retired merchant navy engineer officer from Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the discovery of the valuable 17th century ring represents the highlight of his 10-year “career” as a detectorist.
“It was the first big dig after lockdown on a glorious day,” Harrison remembered, sharing the details of his discovery in a Hansons press release . “We were searching two fields. Other detectorists kept finding hammered coins but I’d found nothing. Then I suddenly got a signal. I dug up a clod of earth but couldn’t see anything. I kept breaking up the clod and, on the last break, a gold ring was shining at me.”

After the experts verified the legitimacy of the ring and returned it to his possession, Harrison decided to put it up for auction. “I’m only selling it because it’s been stuck in a drawer. I hope it will go to someone who will appreciate its historical value.” The rare and exquisitely crafted gold ring is in excellent condition. It was expected to sell at auction for somewhere between $8,000 to $10,500. It finally sold for a respectable $11,200.



https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/sheriff-nottingham-0016568