This is a royal mourning ring for King George IV, who died on June 26, 1830. Rings like this were commissioned by the Crown and distributed to courtiers, government officials, and members of the royal household as part of the elaborate funerary traditions for monarchs of the period. While each ring was individually made, they were produced in large quantities (hundreds, possibly over a thousand) because mourning jewelry for sovereigns was a formalized practice by the 18th and early 19th centuries. Sill, they're rare. Surviving examples are in the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum, and occasionally one pops up for sale at auction. Who owned these? Recipients would have included high-ranking members of the royal court, government ministers, senior political figures, members of the aristocracy with close ties to George IV, and possibly some household servants of high rank or long service. These rings weren’t sold to the public; they were gifts tied to loyalty and service. It would have once sat on the hand of someone in the inner circle of 1830 court life.
Memory Of George IV Died June 26 1830
MATERIALS: 10k gold (tests)
AGE: dated 1830
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 8.75, cannot be resized; 7.1mm shank