One evening a few years ago while entertaining guests there was a loud bang on the window and the sound of someone in our back garden.  S and K rushed out to investigate and found no one but by the light of the torch noticed something glinting in the gravel.  It was this unusual ring and on researching we discovered that it was a tiny gold coin set in a signet ring.  It  is 9 ct gold,  hallmarked and dated 1865.  On the face is Maximiliano Emperado with the Mexican eagle on the other side and inscriptions.
Maximilian was born in 1832 and the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and seems to have been very talented and an excellent leader and administrator.  He was interested in helping to make life easier and fairer for people and was reluctantly persuaded to become Emperor of Mexico in 1863.   His liberal ideas were unpopular with those who opposed the monarchy and he was executed by firing squad in 1867.
Thanks to MaryElizaR  for today’s TinyTuesday challenge of something old.  It was hard to get a good photo in the light and although it is slightly scratched it is not as dirty as it looks.