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Friday, 12th March 2010 (1916 views)

A Roman jewel dating from the first century AD is expected to fetch £50,000 when it goes under the hammer at TimeLine auctions in London on March 19th.

The Telegraph reported that the item, which was found within metres of the so-called Alton Hoard - a display of treasures now exhibited at the British Museum - in 1999, depicts the face of an emperor wearing a laurel wreath.

According to experts, the 2.5-inch-long item was likely made in Alexandria in Egypt before Roman settlers brought it to the UK.

The pendant jewel may have been worn as a necklace and it is thought Tiberius is the Roman emperor depicted on the item.

"It is inscribed with the letters Ti Caesar and includes a red cornelian stone," commented Christopher Wren of TimeLine Auctions.

"The titular form Ti Caesar appears frequently on the coins of Tiberius while the bust is particularly evocative of that depicted on the Alexandrian coins," he added.

A Roman gold ring, 256 Celtic coins and a Roman gold bracelet are among the items from the Alton Hoard currently on display in London.

The British Museum estimates the treasures date from 100 BC to 50 AD.

 

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