Roman Gold Ring with Emerald Gemstone of a Goddess Late 2nd-early 3rd century A.D. A gold ring with a transverse oval hoop widening towards the top; the shoulders forming a heart-shaped leaf in relief, supporting an oval bezel set with a round green emerald, engraved with an image of a female deity (Diké, representing Justice) with a balance and a palm. Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 350, 366, for type. 7.66 grams, 25.67 mm overall, 19.62 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18) (1 in.). Acquired 1980s. From a Home Counties, UK, collection. Dicé, or Diké (in ancient Greek ???? / Dikê), was a Graeco-Roman Pantheon deity personifying human justice in its moral and criminal aspects. She is often depicted as a young, slender woman carrying a balance scale and wearing a laurel wreath. The constellation Libra was thought to represent her distinctive symbol in ancient times. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website.]