PIRATE ARTIFACT, PORT ROYAL, BRONZE TRADE RING WITH A CROCODILE ,1692

Description

PIRATE ARTIFACT, PORT ROYAL, BRONZE TRADE RING WITH A CROCIDLE,1692
This very unusual & quite rare bronze African trade ring was most likely taken from a slaver ship that was captured by one of the Port Royal pirates.                                                                                                                                                                             It was found in the remains of an old stone building that sank in Port Royal harbor during the earthquake of 1692.
It is about a size 7 1/2 with a 1 3/4" crocodile on the top with raised long dotson the outside of the ring.                                             It is in good condition & still has some coral encrustation attached with a green corrosion patina for being on the sea floor for         328 years.                                                                                                                                                                                              It was cleaned slightly using only warm water & mild soap to remove the salt stains by the Port Royal Museum.                              It was on display in the museum for many years but was sold by the museum when it closed down to pay off debts.                        It was bought by Joseph Becker who added it to his large collection of Port Royal artifacts.                                                            He was a formed Navy dived that had dove on the old port for many years & had found quite a few artifacts.
Artifacts from Port Royal are now considered to be quite rare & are never seen at antique shows anymore. Port Royal Bay is now so polluted from the sewers of the nearby city that it is dangerous to swim or dive in the water!
This ring comes with a certificate of authenticity & a Becker Collection letter.                                                                                    See my other Port Royal artifacts, bronze rings like this one but with a pair of lizards, a crocodile & a large cat on top listed separately.