Trethevy Quoit forum 11 room
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Thanks Nigel. You've hit in on the head. I've got two of them, anyway. Gold is fairly malleable so a simple test is to bend it, and so one of them is snapped. They're too thin to be used in bridlework and too small for a wrist. Ideal for stringing though. It's really hard to distinguish between gold and brass without a testing kit, I've found. I've not tried selling 'ring money' on eBay yet - got a lovely aureus that I'm trying to shine up though, and am starting to recognise sword bits.

StoneGloves wrote:
It's really hard to distinguish between gold and brass without a testing kit.
There was this one mentioned in the Scottish Treasure trove Report -

ii) A Bronze Age penannular gold ring from Burghead, Moray. Although commonly referred to as 'ring money' these rings are more likely to have been a form of personal adornment. Despite its appearance, this gold hair ring is not solid gold but has a base metal core wrapped in a thin sheet of gold which would have a significant saving in the quantity of gold used while still retaining the same appearance.

I don't think that the archaeos being scornful about what they're called makes them any less desireable objects. Jeez, Bronze Age jewellery is a pretty nice thing to have. And of course, men have been giving women jewellery in the hope of favours since time began so you could say it IS a form of money.... ;)