Looking for help with antique British gold hallmark

Hi,
I wonder if anyone could help me identify the hallmark for this British gold ring, please ?




This is a ring with a seal (broken, unfortunately) : motto "fortem posce animum". They are not arms, I don't think; maybe military ? A lion holding an axe (facing the wrong way ??). I can't figure out what is at the bottom :

 

London assay office, 18 carat gold, looks like 1955 for the date letter.

 

Agreed on that. It's a seal ring, try pressing it in some blu tack so see it the right way round. Bottom is a garter belt.

 

Wow, thanks for your quick answers.

What do you make of the third sign in the hallmark ? I could not find anything in any online literature.

"garter belt" : thanks, I will research that.

I did not identify the maker : do you have an idea ? https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-AK-AQ.html#AP

 

Crown for gold, 18 for purity, leopard head for London, U for the date.

 

"Leopard's head" ?
You've got a good sight. Well, I suppose your experience tells you the right answer here. Thanks.

 

Given the condition of the seal, and that it's a real seal I have to wonder if it's not older than the ring by rather a lot. The seal may well have been broken when set into the ring. Somebody cared and valued that seal. Maybe the original ring just plain wore through due to old age.

 

As in Order of the Garter.

It would not be unusual for an intaglio set in a signet ring to become cracked, but the edges of the fracture here look very smooth to me. Wondering if it is a glass copy of a stone original that is itself cracked.

 

I'm not an expert, so that is why I came here for help.
However, the shape of the "U" does make me hesitate between 1815 and 1955.

 

The seal itself is broken.

 

Yup, 1955. No duty head for one thing. And as others say, the seal may well be older.

 

Thanks a lot for confirming.

 

As for the motto, it is the start of a quotation from Juvenal:

fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium vitæ extremum inter munera ponat Naturæ

It is the motto of the Fiennes family, but this lion guardant with an axe is not their device.

 

Yes, also other families.

Is the axe facing backwards a sign of anything ? Looks strange to me ...

 

Google images for 'armorial lion axe'.

Yes, having the blade toward the beast does seem to be atypical, as does the attitude of the lion being guardant. Others seem to show the lion prepared to use the axe on others, looking at it & blade turned outward. Must all have significance, but I am no herald.