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# Historic gold posy ring found by Lichfield man to be sold at auction
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/unique-gold-posy-ring-found-by-lichfield-man-to-be-sold-at-auction/
- Published: 2020-02-24T11:25:14.000Z
- Updated: 2020-02-24T11:32:01.000Z
- Description: A 370-year-old gold ring found by a Lichfield metal detectorist is set to be sold at auction.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:18, News

A 370-year-old gold ring found by a Lichfield metal detectorist is set to be sold at auction.

Retired Guy Gordon, 56, found the ancient posy ring in May 2018.

It features the inscription ‘Fortunate If Favoured’ – and the former retail site manager said it certainly was a fortunate find.

![Guy Gordon with the ring on the day he found it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/guy-gordon-on-the-day-he-found-his-posy-ring-credit-guy-gordon.jpg)

Guy Gordon with the ring on the day he found it

> “As far as we know it’s the only posy ring in existence with that inscription – the British Museum said there was no other ring bearing that message.  
>  
> “I’ve been metal detecting for 44 years since the age of 13 and always wanted to find a posy ring.  
>  
> “Most metal detectorists have a bucket list of finds they’d like to unearth and a posy ring was on mine.  
>  
> “I was excited when I found it. It was buried about seven inches deep in the ground. The signal was low.  
>  
> “I found it on pastureland in Warwickshire – I’ve discovered a lot of things, from bronze and stone age objects to modern jewellery, but this is the most romantic find I’ve ever made.”  
>  
> Metal detectorist Guy Gordon

#### “This is a ring like no other”

The ring will be sold by Hansons Auctioneers in their sale on 26th and 27th March.

Valuer Adam Staples said:

> “Guy’s find is a 22ct gold posy ring which would have been used as a wedding ring.  
>  
> “It probably belonged to a young girl. It’s small but, back then, girls married as young as 13.  
>  
> “The inscription is interesting. Typical posy ring messages include ‘I love and like my choice’ or ‘In thy breast my heart doth rest’. This is a ring like no other.  
>  
> “Whoever buys it will own something totally unique.”  
>  
> Adam Staples, Hansons Auctioneers

Gold posy rings were popular from the 15th to 17th centuries in England and France as lovers’ gifts.

Guy said:

> “I’ve decided to sell it now because I’ll never wear it. It’s so small it only fits on to the tip of my middle finger.  
>  
> “I hope someone else will enjoy it. Perhaps it could be a wedding ring again.”  
>  
> Metal detectorist Guy Gordon