16th century AD. A gold finger ring with discoid bezel, pelleted border around a heater shield with crossed keys motif, Lombardic script legend '+S. W. DVBLE CLE[F]. 23.07 grams, 25.10mm overall, 20.80mm internal diameter (approximate size British V, USA 10 3/4, Europe 23.77, Japan 23) (1"). Property of a UK gentleman; acquired from a London gallery in the late 1980s; formerly from a private European collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s. Malcolm Jones, Sheffield University, Dept. English Language & Linguistics, Senior Lecturer 1994-2009 and advisor to the British Museum and Portable Antiquities Scheme, says: 'St. Peter’s crossed keys are sometimes termed the double cle(f) de Saint Pierre in French, making this the signet of a certain S.W. who uses the crossed keys as his personal device [perhaps trading at the sign of La Double Clef /The Crossed Keys?], but the device is also often used emblematically to signify the Papacy.' [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]Very fine condition.