Could a Roman gold ring linked to a curse have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to create The One Ring?
Britain's National Trust and the Tolkien Society are putting the artifact on display Tuesday for fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to decide for themselves whether this was Tolkien's precious ring of power.
Found in a field near a historic Roman town in southern England in 1785, the gold ring is inscribed in Latin, "Senicianus live well in God," and inset with an image of the goddess Venus.
It is larger than average, weights 12 grams, and is believed to date from the 4th century.
The ring is believed to be linked to a curse tablet found separately at the site of a Roman temple dedicated to a god named Nodens in Gloucestershire, western England.