The Gresham signet ring

Sir Thomas Gresham was Court Banker to Queen Elizabeth I and the founding father of Martins Bank. This is one of at least five signet rings given as a gift by Gresham to prominent gentleman during the reign of Elizabeth I. The ring features a crystal signet bearing the arms of Edmund Tremayne, Clerk to the Privy Council, to whom this ring was given. The inner side is engraved with a Grasshopper, the sign from which Gresham operated his business in London, and which would go on to become to symbol of Martins Bank.