Expert: Maria - 8/21/2011

Question
Hello, I own an ancient Roman bronze ring, upon which there is an inscription, it is a little worn but appears to be either 'VEI' or 'VEP'. I assume that this may be an abbreviation as the Romans often employed. I have looked on-line and in the books that I have butt can find no real clue as to the possible meaning, I realise the letters may be something personal to the original owner (the ring shape would ssuggest 2nd century) and we may never know tthe meaning, but I thought i would ask as you are an expert in the classics and may have some light you can shed upon the meaning. Thank you for your time. regards

Answer
Hello,

first of all in Roman inscriptions we find VE for V(ir) E(gregius) or VE(teranus)/ “VET(eranus), as well as VI for “V(ir) I(llustris) and VP for V(igilum) P(raefectus), but we do not find 'VEI' nor 'VEP'.

Anyway, as I suppose that this Roman bronze ring could have belonged to a soldier of one of the Roman legions stationed in Britain from 43 AD  to 410 AD when  the last Romans left, since  barbarian tribes were attacking other parts of the Roman Empire and  Emperor Honorius decided that the Roman legions in Britain were needed elsewhere and thus the Britons had to  fight the Anglo-Saxons and invaders on their own, I could believe that the abbreviation could be e.g. VI VIC  which  stands for Legio VI VICTRIX (the Sixth Victorious Legion) that in 122 AD started work on Hadrian's Wall [which would sustain the peace for two decades and twenty years]and later  helped construct the Antonine Wall, which  was then abandoned by 164 AD.

Also, 'VEI' / 'VEP' could be something personal to the original owner  whose name we do not know, of course.

We know in fact that Roman men had a personalized signet ring that was used to make an impression in sealing wax in order to authorize documents.
For example, there is a ring with the letters of the owner's name which reads :
M[arci] PILI PRIMIG[genii] GRANIANI meaning “of Marcus Primigenius Granianus” as this ring belonged to this man.

To conclude, I’m afraid I did not have helped you so much, but 'VEI' / 'VEP' do not exist , as far as I know.

Best regards,
Maria

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Note that :
-VE for V(ir) E(gregius)  means “distinguished man”
-VE(teranus) for “VET(eranus)  means “veteran”
-VI for “V(ir) I(llustris) means “eminent man”
-VP for V(igilum) P(raefectus) means “prefect of the guards”