A set of beautiful, ancient rings older than St Valentine are set to fetch more than £3,000 at auction.
The haul of jewellery dating back over 3,300 years could provide the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day.
Punters willing to spend big on their romantic presents this year have plenty of options to choose from.
READ MORE: Rare 330-year-old captain’s chamber pot found in wreck off Britain
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One ancient Roman ring features an image of Cupid and is older than cleric St Valentine, who lived from 225 to 273 AD.
The ring – dating back to the 2nd century AD – is carved from rock crystal and set in a modern 18ct gold band.
The item has an estimate of £3,000 for when it heads under the hammer on 5 Feb, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Meanwhile, the oldest ring in the haul dates back by 3,300 years, from Ancient Egypt.
The square-shaped turquoise-coloured tablet shows Egyptian goddess Isis suckling Horus.
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The ring, which has a guide price of £1,200, was made around 1300 BC and features hieroglyphs and a shank in the shape of a lotus flower.
And a third, three-coloured cameo ring, carved with the profile of Athena on a gold rub-over setting, is forecast to fetch £3,200.
A duo of rings, made in Roman times and including a 2nd/3rd-century AD carnelian intaglio of Fortuna dress, are due to be snapped up for a whopping £1,500.
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Lastly, a branded agate intaglio engraved to the centre with a hippocampus, turned into a ring in the 19th century, is expected to go for £900.
The rings are on offer through Sloane Street Auctions, London.
The auctioneer’s owner Daniel Hunt said: “These stunning rings are surely among the most thoughtful and stylish love tokens that you could think of for Valentine Day gifts.
“It’s astonishing that such uniquely crafted items with so distinguished a history can be had for so little.”
READ MORE: Gardener digs up Britain’s biggest collection of used BOTTLES
