BYZANTINE HIGH KARAT GOLD RING DEPICTING CHRIST AND INSCRIPTION Ca. AD 600. A 23.5 kt gold ring with a circular bezel engraved with a frontal bust of Christ with a nimbus, flanked by the Greek letters IC and XC, an abbreviation of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Iēsous Christos), meaning 'Jesus Christ'. The hoop is thin and round in section. Reviewed by Sami Fortune, an ancient jewellery specialist. For similar see: The British Museum, Museum number AF.224. Size: D:16.31mm / US: 5 3/4 / UK: L; Weight: 4.3g Provenance: Private UK collection; London art market; formerly in R.H. private collection, Switzerland, 1980s-2007. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.