Tom Clarke probably wasn't expecting such an exciting find when he set out with his metal detector to search a sheep pasture near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in May last year. From a depth of around 25 cm, he recovered a gold object that he initially thought was a medieval signet ring. However, the engraving soon revealed that the object was more recent and once had a famous owner: George Grenville, who was British Prime Minister from 1763 to 1765 and whose family owned an estate nearby.
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A year after Tom Clarke's ring was recovered from the ground, it went under the hammer at the "Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu" auction at Noonans in Mayfair, London. Estimated at £8,000, the hammer finally fell at £9,500 (about $12,000). The successful buyer, among the many interested parties, came from the USA.
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Nigel Mills, artefact and coin expert at Noonans, explains why this English ring is so interesting for an American: “Just as the country focuses on who will be the next Prime Minister, we are pleased to be looking back to who was in power 260 years ago. The ring dates from the 18th century and originally belonged to George Grenville who was Prime Minister from April 1763 for just over two years. He tried to reduce Britain’s growing debt by raising revenue in the American colonies with the introduction of the Sugar Act, the Currency Act, and the Stamp Act. These new laws, especially the Stamp Act, were strongly objected to by the colonists and stirred up protests, which resulted in George III dismissing Grenville.” The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but concerns over taxation ultimately led to the American Revolutionary War of 1775-83.”
George Grenville presumably bequeathed the ring to his son of the same name. However, at some point over the years, the heirloom was lost, only to reappear in a pasture. The sum realized at the auction will be split between the finder and the owner of the pasture. Tom Clarke comments: "I didn't watch the auction as I was out with the metal detector. I only stopped when it started to rain! I'm very pleased with the result; it's fantastic. I'd like to put the money in my bank account, but I'm sure my wife will have ideas on how to spend it!"
