A roman nicolo intaglio, mounted in an ancient gold ring. Mercury with attributes. The god, standing up and turned to the right, is wearing the winged petasos and holding the caduceus in his right hand, while holding a bag with coins in the left one. A ram (his sacred animal) is at his feet, and turned towards him, while at his side an eagle is raising over a column. An engraving carried out with competence, with care for the anatomical volumes in the body of the god, who has been portrayed following a hellenistic influence. The gem shows allegorical values related to the ambit of commerce (luck and plenty) and travel (Mercury is patron of travels and travellers, other than psychopomp). The eagle is a clear reference to Jupiter, his father, for whom Mercury was a messenger, and to roman military power. The intaglio, refined in both the engraving and composition, shows light wear marks and is set in its original ring. End of the 1st century B.C. - beginning of the 1st century A.D.
8 x 10 x 2 mm; ring diam. 17 x 19 mm; gr. 6,78.