On the outer side of the hoop of the ring are two other inscriptions, also in capital letters. The first reads:
✠ XPS· VINCIT· XPS· REGNAT· XPS· IMPERA· _Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat._
✠ ET· VERBU: CARO: FACTU: E: ET ABITAUIT: INOB· _Et verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis._
The workmanship of these inscriptions is exceedingly good and the letters well formed and sharply cut. It will be remarked that in the first legend on the hoop the letter T. in the word _Imperat_ is omitted for want of space; and in the second, for the same reason, not only the final _m_, as usual, is twice suppressed, but the word _est_ is given in the abbreviated form of _e_; several letters are joined together; the aspirate is omitted in _habitavit_; and the letter _n_ is made to serve for the final of _in_ and the initial of _nobis_. As to the date of this ring, it may, very probably, be ascribed to the thirteenth century. There can be no doubt that the owner, Thomasius de Rogeriis, must have been a member of the Neapolitan family of Roggieri. The legend upon the ring, _Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat_, is found, also, in the series of Anglo-Gothic gold coins from the reign of Edward III. of England to that of Henry VI.
We have been favored with the perusal of a presentation copy of the article (in the Archæological Journal) and from it have taken the above explanation. This copy was sent by the possessor of the ring, George Borrett, of Southampton, England, Esquire, to Isaac E. Cotheal, of New-York, Esquire; and it has, interleaved, (with the addition of a wax impression,) the following MS. note: “The Abbé Farrari, a priest attached to the Church of Sta. Maria in Comedia, (also called the Bocci della Venite,) submitted it to some members of the Propaganda at Rome, 12th April, 1845, who described it as follows: _Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat, et verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis. Sigillum Thomasii de Rogeriis de Suessa_: Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands and the Word was made flesh and dwelt in us. The seal of Thomas de Rogeriis de Suessa.
“The veritable signet of Cicero (_i. e._) the coral in the centre of the ring only. There were members of the Propaganda who thought it resembled some impressions attached to documents in the Vatican of the Roman Governor in Judea, ‘_Pontius Pilate_.’ The gold setting is supposed to be about the eighth or ninth century by some dignitary in triumph over the pagan philosopher or governor.”