Offered is Elvis Presley owned gold ring that employs an actual British "Gold Sovereign" coin as its face. The ring comes from the Nancy Rooks collection. Elvis famously loved coin rings--he owned a number of them bearing many different kinds of coins, but to our knowledge this is the only one bearing a gold British coin. The underside of the ring bears the image of King George V, which is technically the front of the coin, but the reverse of the coin bears an image of Saint George defeating a dragon, a much more dramatic visage. In a legend, Saint George—a soldier venerated in Christianity—defeats a dragon. This mythic imagery may have been the deciding factor for Elvis in acquiring this gorgeous gold ring. From Henry the VII in 1489 to George the V, the gold Sovereign has been recognized for centuries as a premier gold coin. Although the Sovereign bore no denomination, it was struck throughout the British Empire in 22K gold and weighed 7.9 grams. So it grew to become the most trusted coin in the world. Reportedly, survival kits of Allied aircrews and secret agents during World War II even carried them. Now rarely seen, gold Sovereigns of George V are important, as they are among the last released for circulation portraying a British king.
Nancy worked as a maid and cook for Elvis Presley at Graceland from 1967 to 1977, and stayed on to work for the family until 1982. She treasured her time working for Elvis and the Presley family, and always enjoyed sharing her memories with fans over the years. She made countless meals for Elvis, including his peanut butter and banana sandwiches. As a member of the Graceland family, Nancy was given any number of household items, decorative pieces or keepsakes that Elvis, Vernon, Elvis' grandmother Minnie Mae or Elvis' Aunt Delta wanted her to have. Sadly, Nancy passed August 15, 2022, during The annual "Elvis Week" celebrations in Memphis. The items offered in this auction emanate directly from Nancy's estate and are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from her family.
The size 11 1/2 ring weighs 7.92 grams and presents with moderate if not heavy wear, with the "9 CT" British gold designation half worn off. Near Mint condition.