A Late Roman Gold Neck Ring with Inscription from Walcheren (prov. Zeeland / NL)

Abstract

In 2016, a Late Roman gold neck ring with inscription was found in Veere, part of the former island of Walcheren. The inscription reads VICTORINVSFVIMB and is interpreted as »made by Victorinus, weighing 6 ounce, ordered (or controlled) by MB«, which might mean Ministrator Barbaricariae, the master of the workshop where barbarian gift items (gold and silver jewellery and vessels) and / or weapons were made. The object is dated to the first half of the 4th century, based on stylistic parallels and comparable inscriptions on other artefacts, as well as on the alloy composition, which resembles monetary gold of the period 220-346. Data on the composition of the object results from pXRF measurement of the neck ring and 25 gold coins as a comparison. The discovery of the neck ring draws our attention to Late Roman activity at the Zeeland coast, which was unclear until now, but ties in with scanty evidence gathered before.