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Unexpected Find in an English Field: The Gold Ring from Seven Centuries Ago Features an Engraved Griffin, a Mysterious Inscription, and Possible Connection to a Medieval Noblewoman.
A strong signal on the metal detector, a small clump of dirt, and a golden glimmer where no one expected to find anything valuable.
This is how a search that seemed destined to end without any significant discoveries revealed an object approximately seven centuries old, potentially hiding a link to one of the women of the English medieval nobility.
The object is a rare gold seal ring from the 13th or 14th century, found in a field near Stoke Ash, Suffolk, England.
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The jewel will be auctioned by Noonans Mayfair on September 22, 2026, in London, with an estimated value between £10,000 and £12,000.
The Discovery Occurred on April Fool’s Day
Behind the value lies an even more curious story.
According to a statement released by Noonans on September 16, 2026, friends Aaron Pizzey, 30, and James Race, 39, found the piece on April 1, 2024, while scanning a plowed field with metal detectors.
The date made the discovery even more improbable.
It was April Fool’s Day, and the two had already passed through two fields without finding anything of significance.
Pizzey, an engineering professor at a college in West Suffolk, was even frustrated with issues in his equipment when Race joked that it could be a good omen.
Soon after, Pizzey’s Minelab Nox 800 detector emitted a strong signal.
As he began to remove the dirt, he noticed a golden hue amidst the soil.
When he called his friend to show him the find, Race initially thought it was a joke because of the date.
The Small Jewel Holds About Seven Centuries of History
The object that emerged from the earth was far from just another old metal piece.
Experts at Noonans describe the ring as extremely rare and estimate that it was produced between the 13th and 14th centuries.
It weighs only 2.43 grams, while the main oval part measures about 19.7 millimeters long by 16.3 millimeters wide.
At the center of the jewel is a carnelian stone, a variety of quartz known for its reddish and brownish tones.
Engraved on it is a griffin, a mythical creature traditionally depicted with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
During the Middle Ages, this type of creature frequently appeared in symbols and heraldic representations.
The combination of two animals associated with strength and power helped the griffin remain a recognizable figure even centuries after its first representations in Antiquity.
The Inscription May Reveal Who Owned the Ring
But it’s an inscription around the stone that makes the ring particularly intriguing.
The letters were engraved in inverted Lombardic script, something consistent with the function of a seal ring.
This type of object could be pressed against wax or another material to produce a readable imprint, serving as a kind of personal identification on documents and correspondence.
According to Nigel Mills, a consultant for Noonans, a possible interpretation of the inscription would be something close to “Griffin — Matilda — the maternal countess”.
The translation is not considered a definitive identification, but it opens the door to a historical hypothesis: the ring may have belonged to Matilda, or Maud, of Lancaster.
Who was Matilda of Lancaster
Matilda was born around 1310 and was the great-granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In 1327, she married William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster, becoming Countess of Ulster.
The couple had one daughter, Elizabeth de Burgh.
Matilda’s life underwent a significant change just a few years later.
William was assassinated in 1333, and their daughter inherited the title of Countess of Ulster.
Matilda and Elizabeth then moved to England, where they lived in the court of King Edward III.
Matilda would marry again in 1343, this time to Sir Ralph de Ufford.
After the death of her second husband, she took religious vows and became a canon at the Augustinian Priory of Campsey in Suffolk, around 1347 or 1348.
Location of the Discovery Reinforces the Historical Hypothesis
It is precisely the geography that makes the possible connection even more interesting.
The ancient Campsey Priory was located about 20 miles (approximately 32 kilometers) from the area where the ring was found.
Later, Matilda was linked to the establishment of a religious community at Bruisyard Abbey, also in Suffolk.
This site is approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Stoke Ash.
She died and was buried in Bruisyard in 1377.
The proximity, the inscription, and the period of the jewel form a set of clues that make Matilda a possible owner.
Still, none of this evidence definitively proves that the ring was in her possession.
The very description of the Noonans lot treats the association as a historical possibility.
Seal Rings Were Used as Identification
Another detail helps explain why the piece attracts interest among specialists and collectors.
Medieval gold rings designed to function as seals are considered uncommon, especially when combining precious metal with an engraved stone.
The jewel has also not arrived intact to the present day.
The circular part that would surround the finger is practically absent, leaving mainly the seal area and parts of the shoulders of the ring.
The carnelians, on the other hand, show only slight surface wear and a possible minor damage near the griffin’s head, according to the auction house’s conservation report.
Find Was Officially Registered in the United Kingdom
After the discovery, Pizzey and Race reported the find so it could be officially registered.
The piece is linked to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a British program created to document archaeological objects found by the public, under the number SF-0F739C.
The catalog also associates the object with the Treasure process reference 2024 T440.
The sale will occur as lot 89 in the auction Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu, held by Noonans Mayfair.
The catalog maintains the estimate of £10,000 to £12,000 for the object.
Auction Proceeds Will Be Shared with the Landowner
Should the piece be sold, Aaron Pizzey and James Race state they will divide the money with the landowner where the ring was found.
The portion intended for the two friends has relatively simple plans: they said they intend to invest in a new metal detector and make home renovations.
