The caduceus - a staff entwined by two snakes and topped with a pair of wings - is the staff of Hermes, the messenger of the gods and patron of commerce, travelers, and alchemy. Used as a medical emblem today, the caduceus has no historical link to healing. The rod of Asclepius, god of medicine and healing, features just one snake coiled along its length is the true medical symbol. So why do we use the caduceus as the symbol of medicine? The mix up dates back to the early 20th century when a US Army medical officer confused the caduceus with a printer's mark used on historical medical textbooks and adopted the two-snake emblem as the official US Army Medical Corps insignia in 1902. This early Victorian ring features a citrine intaglio caduceus set within an ornate repoussé ring.
MATERIALS: 10k gold (tests), citrine
AGE: c. 1840
CONDITION: Good - some flattening at the back of the shank, seam between the inner hoop and repoussé top is visible
SIZE: 9, cannot be resized due to hollow construction; 12.9mm head, 4.6mm shank