Bidspirit auction | Ancient Roman Bronze Ring Key,

Ancient Roman Bronze Ring Key, 1st-4th c. A.D. - Ancient Roman Bronze Ring Key, Circa 1st-4th Century A.D. | An Ancient Roman bronze ring featuring a protruding square shaped notched key | Approx. Measurements: Internal diameter: .75” (19mm)(US ring size: 9) (UK ring size: C) | Provenance: Ex Private Spanish collection, Madrid Antiquities Gallery. Certificate of Authenticity from Chris Martin, London, England (Vice Chairman of the Antiquities Dealers Association (ADA), Chairman of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and Member of the Treasure Valuation Committee (2016 - Present)(Department for Culture, Media and Sport, London, England) | Rings modeled as keys were a Roman innovation. The numerous different wards suggest that they were meant to open a specific lock, rather than having only a decorative purpose. Furthermore, they were also a status symbol, as they showed the wearer had goods to protect.