A unique and substantial 18 carat gold Georgian mourning band, hallmarked for 1814. The outer hoop is inscribed in gold on a black enamel ground between milled edges with an address to the deceased in Latin : Benigne docti mentisque. This translates as : O kind man and person of educated mind. To interior are English hallmarks for 1814 and the details of the deceased, also in Latin : H. Collins obt. Octobris 3tio 1814 at 24. With demise at such a young age, and with this Latin inscription, I would assume that H. Collins was a Classics’ scholar. The ring is size Q and 1/2 [US 8 and 1/4] and the band is 1/3 of an inch wide. Fine quality and immaculate, with an inscription hitherto unknown on a Georgian mourning ring. [Thank you Mr Holmes, Latymer Upper, Classics department, for translating the Latin].