The Novium Museum in Chichester is the proud new owner of the Roman gold bracelet discovered in 2022 by an 11-year-old boy walking the dog with his mother. The gold jewel dates to the 1st century A.D. and is a rare cuff of the armilla type, a battle honor given to Roman soldiers for bravery. Most of the ones that have been found are bronze; this is only the fourth gold example recorded in the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. It was Rowan Brannan who spotted the glint of gold, and Rowan who insisted it was real gold and took it home over the objections of his mother. Rowan researched it further when he got home, and with the support of a metal detecting family friend, he reported it to the local Finds Liaison Officer. Archaeologists confirmed not only that it was real gold, but that it was an authentic Roman artifact. The armilla was declared official treasure at a Coroner’s Court earlier this year. Rowan and his mother Amanda were kept in the loop throughout the process. The British Museum’s valuation committee then determined its fair market value, and a local museum close to the find site was given the opportunity to acquire the piece for the assessed value. That sum would then be split between the finder and the landowner. The Novium Musem was able to raise the money with a grant from Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. The armilla will go on display at the museum on September 10th. Chichester District Council leader Adrian Moss said: “Acquiring this bracelet for The Novium Museum’s collection will help shed light on military attitudes, including how Roman soldiers were rewarded for their bravery, gallantry and service, particularly with regards to the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43. “This piece will widen our museum team’s understanding of Roman life locally and allows us to tell a different story from the Roman period.”